Use of Penicillium chrysogenum Mycelium as Animal Food

Abstract

The mycelial cake of Penicillium chrysogenum , when dried and specially processed, has been found to serve as a source of protein in place of soybean meal in the diet of experimental mice. Animals were fed a control diet first, and an increase in weight proved the formulation to be satisfactory. The changeover from the control to the experimental diet was sudden, and initially caused a decrease in the weight of the experimental mice. However, at the end of a 29-day period, the experimental mice showed increases in weight comparable to those of the control animals. This supports the view that dried mycelium can be substituted as a protein source for soybean meal, provided it is made more palatable and less disagreeable in odor.