The purpose of this experiment is to expand the feed of growing sika deer and to explore the effects on growing sika deer of the spent mushroom substrate of Pleurotus ostreatus (SMS-MP). Twelve immature female growing sika deer were randomly assigned to four groups. The ratios of SMS-MP to replace concentration supplements were 0%, 10%, 20%, and 30%, respectively, and the growth performance, feed intake and apparent digestibility, serum biochemical indexes, blood physiological indexes, serum immune globulin and plasma amino acid of growing sika deer were measured. The results of the current study confirmed the applicability of SMS-MP as a feed ingredient in growing sika deer diets. There was no significant change in growth performance and hematology of growing sika deer when the concentrate supplement was replaced with 10–20% SMS-MP. However, replacing 30% of concentrate supplements with SMS-MP in the growing sika deer diet resulted in significantly decreased Hb and HCT levels. It can be concluded that, as a waste resource, adding a small amount of SMS-MP has no significant effect on the growth of sika deer, and at the same time can reduce the consumption of concentrate supplements, thereby improving the economic benefits of sika deer breeding.

At present, spent mushroom substrate (SMS) is a waste resource that is producing a pollution problem in China, and which has some use as animal feed or fertilizer, has not been assessed as a feed for deer. The purpose of this study is to expand the feed of male sika deer and reduce the feeding cost by using the waste resource of SMS. The 10% concentrated supplement was replaced with SMS and the feed intake, apparent digestibility, blood index and velvet production of male sika deer were measured. As the results showed, compared to the control group, the substitution of SMS for 10% of the concentrate supplement decreased the concentration of IgA (p < 0.01), replacing 10% concentrated supplement with SMS of Pleurotus ostreatus (SMS-MP) reduced the intake of organic matter (OMI) and improved the digestibility of ether extract (EE), while replacing 10% concentrated supplement with SMS of Flammulina velutipes (SMS-MF) had no effect on apparent nutrient digestibility, feed intake, velvet antler production, and biochemical indexes. In conclusion, SMS had no effect on serum biochemical indexes and the ratio of the feed weight of the deer supplement to the weight of velvet antler (p > 0.05). At the same time, SMS could reduce the feed consumption and improve the economy by using SMS as a waste resource.

The intestinal microbiota drives the maturation of the immune system, which is essential for maintaining lifetime homeostasis. Whether fecal microbiota transplantation can promote the development of the immune system in chicks? On days 1, 3, and 5, the post-hatch Hy-line Brown chicks were treated with fecal suspension from breeding hens. Intestinal length, blood biochemical indicators, the morphology of immune organs, and intestinal immunity-related indicators were focused on days 7 and 14. Short-chain fatty acids were determined by gas chromatography. We discovered that fecal microbial transplantation significantly increased the area of the follicles and medulla from the bursa of fabricius, as well as the area of the medulla, cortex, and both ratios from the thymus on 14 d, the concentration of butyric acid in feces, the levels of immunologically active substances (TGF-β, IL-10, Foxp3, GPR43, IgA, etc.) in serum or the intestine, and the number of goblet cells. Correlation analysis indicated that short-chain fatty acids, as metabolites of the gut microbiota, were correlated with intestinal immunity. In short, fecal microbiota transplantation regulated early intestinal immunity, which provided the possibility for the processing and utilization of gut microbiota as germplasm resources.

Context: Recent studies have indicated that the early stage of growth is a critical window for intestinal microbiota manipulation to optimise the immunity and body growth. Faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is often used to regulate intestinal microbiota colonisation. Aims: The aim of this study was to explore the effect of FMT on the growth performance, intestinal microbiota, jejunum morphology and immune function of newly hatched laying-type chicks. Methods: The chicks (Hy-line Brown) were randomly divided into the control group (CON) and FMT group (FMT), which were treated with sterile saline and faecal microbiota suspension of Hy-line Brown breeder hens on Days 1, 3 and 5 respectively. For each group, there were five replications of 12 birds each for 4 weeks. This study investigated the body weight, tibia length, intestinal microflora, jejunum morphology and immune indexes of the chicks. Key results: The results showed that the body weight and tibia length of birds in the FMT group were significantly increased at 7, 14 and 21 days of age (P < 0.01). Furthermore, we found that FMT altered the intestinal microbiota community of the birds and improved the richness, evenness, diversity and stability of their intestinal microbiota (P < 0.05). The faecal microbiota of the donor hens and birds that received the transplantation were very similar. The villus height and the ratio of the villus to crypt of the birds in the FMT group were significantly (P < 0.0001) higher than those in the control group. In addition, Spearman’s correlation analysis showed that the villus height of the FMT group showed positive correlation with Bacteroides (P < 0.05), and the villus height and the ratio of the villus to crypt in the FMT group showed positive correlations with Megasphaera (P < 0.05). The birds in the FMT group had no significant difference in intestinal length, immune organ indexes, serum ß-defensin and IgA concentrations. Conclusions: In summary, FMT can promote the early growth performance and jejunum morphology of laying-type chicks and improve the intestinal microbiota. FMT has no significant effect on the immune function of chicks. Implications: FMT may be a potential method to improve the health of chicks to enhance the poultry industry.