Kayla Stamps Master’s Thesis Defense, Monday, November 24, 2025 @ 10:00 am Central Time

COMMITTEE CHAIR: Dr. Jayant Lohakare

TITLE: UTILIZATION OF MUSHROOM STEMS AS A FEED RESOURCE FOR SUSTAINABLE POULTRY PRODUCTION

ABSTRACT: Soybean meal (SBM) is the primary protein source in poultry diets, but its escalating cost and the environmental impact of soybean cultivation highlight the need for sustainable alternatives. Mushroom stems are generated at large volumes as agricultural waste, yet contain bioactive compounds and essential nutrients that may benefit poultry health and productivity. Despite these attributes, limited research has evaluated their potential as feed ingredients across different poultry species. This study addresses this gap by investigating whether mushroom stem powder can partially replace SBM in poultry diets while improving performance, health, and environmental outcomes. Specifically, four experiments were conducted to evaluate the impact of freeze-dried A. bisporus stem powder on poultry performance metrics. Experiments 1 and 2 compared the effects of graded levels of brown mushroom stem powder (BMSP) and white mushroom stem powder (WMSP) on growth performance and immune responses of Lohmann LSL Lite layer chicks. Based on these results, BMSP was selected for further testing. Experiment 3 examined its influence on growth performance, health status, and meat quality of Ross 708 male broilers, while Experiment 4 assessed its effects on egg production and quality in laying hens. The findings showed that the inclusion of mushroom stems did not significantly affect growth performance in layer chicks or broilers. However, BMSP improved blood biochemical markers, enhanced nutrient digestibility, and reduced greenhouse gas emissions in chicks. In broilers, they functioned more effectively as a health-promoting additive rather than as a protein substitute. In laying hens, supplementation improved egg production and egg quality traits, including shell strength and internal characteristics. In conclusion, mushroom stem powder cannot fully substitute SBM across poultry categories but can be utilized as a functional feed additive. Its inclusion enhances health status, product quality, and environmental sustainability, while promoting the valorization of agricultural byproducts within circular economic frameworks.

Room Location: Seminar Room, CARC, CAFNR