From mushroom waste to livestock feed

Dr Ingrid Malebana and Dr Klaas-Jan Leeuw, researchers at the Agricultural Research Council, are exploring whether a simple farm by-product can help South African farmers cut costs.

- Dr Ingrid Malebana and Dr Klaas-Jan Leeuw

Can something we throw away today become the feed that sustains our livestock tomorrow? This is the question behind a new research initiative led by the Agricultural Research Council (ARC), where scientists are studying whether spent mushroom substrate (SMS), the material left behind after harvesting mushrooms, can be reused as a nutritious feed ingredient for cattle and other livestock.

Dr Ingrid Malebana and Dr Klaas-Jan Leeuw are leading this shift through groundbreaking research: exploring whether spent mushroom substrate (SMS), a leftover from mushroom cultivation, can become a valuable livestock feed ingredient.

Every year, mushroom farms across the country dispose of thousands of tons of this substrate.

Traditionally treated as waste, SMS is now attracting attention for a very different reason: it still contains valuable nutrients that animals can benefit from.

TURNING BY-PRODUCTS INTO OPPORTUNITIES

Farmers constantly face rising feed costs, unpredictable weather patterns, and pressure to adopt more sustainable production systems.

In this environment, the ability to make use of locally available, low-cost by-products can offer a real advantage.

SMS is one such material. Even after mushroom production ends, the substrate retains:

• Moderate levels of crude protein;

• Fermentable fibre suitable for ruminants;

• High dry matter content; and

• Low anti-nutritional compounds, like tannins.