2014 Volume 20 Issue 2 Pages 493-497
High-temperature steam treatment of wood materials results in sterilization and improved digestibility; however, in some cases deleterious degradation products are generated. Steam-treated sawdust-based spent mushroom substrate (S-SSMS) was prepared from non-treated SSMS (N-SSMS) after the cultivation of Maitake (Grifola frondosa) mushroom by autoclaving. Wistar rats were assigned to three groups: control group, fed a basal diet; N-SSMS group, fed a 25% N-SSMS diet; and S-SSMS group, fed a 25% S-SSMS diet for 26 days. The effects of S-SSMS on the growth performance, serum biochemical parameters, fecal composition, and cecal pH of rats were investigated. There were no significant differences in body weight gain, feed efficiency, and serum biochemical parameters among the groups. However, fecal weight and protein amount of N-SSMS and S-SSMS groups were significantly higher than those of the control group, while cecal pHs of N-SSMS and S-SSMS groups were lower than that of the control group. Based on these observations, S-SSMS has potential as a feed additive for monogastric animals.
