The project of Highly Efficient Use of Ramie Byproduct for Animal Feed and Mushroom Substrate, undertaken by the Institute of Bast Fiber Crops (IBFC) of CAAS passed MOA appraisal in December, 2012.

According to the reports, this achievement should enable direct transformation of ramie into quality prtein animal feed and edible mushroom substrate through ensiling and granulation/without separating the stalk and leaves. Using this technology, the utilization rate of ramie biomass resource could be improved from 20% to 80% and ramie silage and tender leave protein, two of the key nutrition indicators can reach 13% and 20% respectively. The ramie silage can substitute 30% of concentrates while maintaining the same productivity level and lower the daily cost of cattle breeding by 6-7 yuan/ head. Pleurotus eryngii cultivated with the ramie substrate, will have a 13% increase on biological efficiency with higher protein and lower sugar and fat contents.

Professor XIONG He-ping, team leader and DG of the IBFC explains that, this achievement could bring more added values to rami products and benefit more farmers and the industry.