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<p>Meeting global food security by 2050 requires an estimated 70% increase in agricultural production. This will intensify feed-food competition and escalate conventional protein supplement costs for ruminant producers. A promising circular bio-economy approach involves the utilisation of spent mushroom substrate (SMS), the lignocellulosic residue remaining after mushroom harvesting. Each year, approximately 85&#xa0;million tonnes of SMS are produced worldwide, representing biomass that has undergone partial enzymatic degradation through fungal activity, thereby enhancing digestibility compared with untreated agricultural by-products. Spent mushroom substrate contains crude protein levels ranging from 80 to 220&#xa0;g/kg, moderate to high neutral detergent fibre (450–780&#xa0;g/kg), and varied minerals. This review synthesises existing evidence on SMS as an alternative feed resource by evaluating its nutritional composition, processing methods, and influence on ruminant performance to promote sustainable livestock feeding systems. Findings showed that incorporating SMS into diets at inclusion levels of 10% to 30% DM improves growth performance by 8% to 12% in ruminants while reducing feed costs by 30% to 50%. Moreover, SMS supplementation enhances milk stability, meat quality, and carcass characteristics, providing the dual benefits of waste valorisation and product enhancement. However, several challenges persist, including compositional variability, inconsistent animal responses between production systems, and the absence of processing standardisation. Knowledge gaps also remain regarding mycotoxin risks, species-specific optimisation, and the long-term safety of SMS inclusion. Therefore, addressing these challenges through further research and clear regulations would be crucial to realise its full potential as a sustainable feed resource.</p>

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Potential of spent mushroom substrate as a sustainable alternative feed resource in ruminant nutrition and its limitations

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2026年1月23日

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  • Lwando Mbambalala,
  • Lwazi Mwanda,
  • Sikho K. Cembi,
  • Minentle L. Mnukwa,
  • Lindokuhle C. Mhlongo

摘要

Meeting global food security by 2050 requires an estimated 70% increase in agricultural production. This will intensify feed-food competition and escalate conventional protein supplement costs for ruminant producers. A promising circular bio-economy approach involves the utilisation of spent mushroom substrate (SMS), the lignocellulosic residue remaining after mushroom harvesting. Each year, approximately 85 million tonnes of SMS are produced worldwide, representing biomass that has undergone partial enzymatic degradation through fungal activity, thereby enhancing digestibility compared with untreated agricultural by-products. Spent mushroom substrate contains crude protein levels ranging from 80 to 220 g/kg, moderate to high neutral detergent fibre (450–780 g/kg), and varied minerals. This review synthesises existing evidence on SMS as an alternative feed resource by evaluating its nutritional composition, processing methods, and influence on ruminant performance to promote sustainable livestock feeding systems. Findings showed that incorporating SMS into diets at inclusion levels of 10% to 30% DM improves growth performance by 8% to 12% in ruminants while reducing feed costs by 30% to 50%. Moreover, SMS supplementation enhances milk stability, meat quality, and carcass characteristics, providing the dual benefits of waste valorisation and product enhancement. However, several challenges persist, including compositional variability, inconsistent animal responses between production systems, and the absence of processing standardisation. Knowledge gaps also remain regarding mycotoxin risks, species-specific optimisation, and the long-term safety of SMS inclusion. Therefore, addressing these challenges through further research and clear regulations would be crucial to realise its full potential as a sustainable feed resource.