Feeding value of total mixed ration silage with spent mushroom substrate

Six wethers were used in a digestibility experiment arranged as replicated 3 × 3 Latin square to evaluate the nutritive value of total mixed ration (TMR) silages that were made from ensiling of TMR containing 0, 6.5 and 13.0% (dry matter basis) of spent mushroom substrate (SMS) for 45 days (treatments denoted as CSMS, LSMS and HSMS, respectively). The amount of SMS replaced the same amount of timothy hay in the respective TMR. All TMR were well preserved as indicated by their low pH, low ammonia‐N and high lactic acid contents. Increasing levels of SMS in the TMR silage quadratically reduced (P < 0.05) nutrient digestibility with the exception of ether extract. The difference of total digestible nutrients and digestible energy contents between LSMS and CSMS TMR silage were less than those between LSMS and HSMS. Increasing concentration of SMS in the ration tended to decrease content of total volatile fatty acids in rumen fluid but increased the ratio of acetate to propionate and pH. The study suggests that a SMS level of 6.5% in the diet DM can be recommended for silage based TMR.