LAUSR

Abstract Mushroom waste compost is the main byproduct when cultivating mushrooms. Containing many mycelia, it has a positive effect on animal health but its high fibre content may be detrimental to growth. In order to reduce the environmental problems caused by mushroom waste compost and possibly increase the use of agriculture byproducts, this study aimed to investigate the effects of replacing broiler feed with Pennisetum purpureum schum compost (PWMC) and its effect on meat quality and fat metabolism. Totally 240 broilers were used and allocated to 4 different treatments, including control group, 5% PWMC, Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermented PWMC (FPW) and Pennisetum purpureum schum (PP). Each treatment had 3 replicates and 20 broilers in a pen. The results show that replacing 5% broiler feed with PWMC, FPW and PP decreased the depth of subcutaneous fat in broilers from 3.6 to 2.6, 2.7 and 2.8 mm, respectively (p = .0132). Furthermore, adipolysis mRNA expression increased in all treatment groups, slightly increasing breast and thigh meat accumulation. Overall, mushroom waste compost at 5% in broiler diets could improve the body composition of broilers and adipolysis-related mRNA expression. Highlights High-fibre agricultural by-products can replace part of the broiler diet without affecting its growth performance. High-fibre agricultural by-products can decrease broiler subcutaneous fat accumulation. High-fibre agricultural by-products can enhance fat metabolism-related mRNA expression.