Effects of dietary supplementation with fermented spent mushroom substrates of the winter mushroom (Flammulina velutipes) on growth performance, carcass traits, and economic characteristics of Hanwoo steers
This study was conducted to investigate the effects of fermented spent mushroom substrates (F-SMS) of Flammulina velutipes on growth performance, carcass traits, and economic characteristics of Hanwoo steers. A yeast strain (Saccharomyces sp. UJ14) and Bacillus strain (Bacillus sp. UJ03) isolated from fresh spent mushroom substrates of Flammulina velutipes were used as probiotics to prepare F-SMS. Twenty-four Hanwoo steers (14 months old) were allocated to three dietary treatments via a randomized block design and were slaughtered at 30 months of age. These treatment groups included Control (TMR), T1 (TMR containing 10% of F-SMS) group, and T2 (TMR containing 30% of F-SMS). Body weight gain was not influenced by the experimental diets. DM and TDN intakes in the finishing period were significantly (p < 0.05) greater in group T1 than in other groups. CP intake was significantly (p < 0.05) greater in group T2 than in other groups during the whole experimental period. Among carcass traits, rib-eye area and back fat thickness tended to increase with F-SMS supplementation. The appearance rate (%) of a meat yield more than grade A was the highest in group T1. The net profits increased by 1.2% and 13.3% in groups T1 and T2, respectively. In conclusion, if a proper feeding program (including feed safety) can be ensured, spent mushroom substrates of Flammulina velutipes can prove to be a highly profitable feed source for Hanwoo steers.