Aged Cow Manure Compost for Mushroom Cultivation

This fully composted cow manure is screened, sun‑dried and blended with a small amount of straw bedding. The result is a mellow, earthy substrate base—rich enough for button, portobello and shaggy ink cap, yet gentle enough to blend with coir or straw for oyster and king stropharia grows.

Why Cow Manure?

• Balanced nutrients (≈ 0.8‑0.6‑0.7 NPK) with plenty of humus for water retention.
• Fine, crumbly texture mixes easily and stays porous after hydration.
• Aged ≥ 8 months, then heat‑treated above 70 °C to reduce pathogens and weeds.
• Lower ammonia than fresh or horse manure—reduced risk of pinning delays.

Typical Formulations

• Agaricus compost: 70 % aged cow manure, 20 % chopped straw, 10 % gypsum.
• Coir blend for oysters: 80 % coir, 15 % cow manure, 5 % vermiculite.

Pasteurise mixes at 60‑65 °C for 60 minutes before inoculation.

Preparation Steps

1. Hydrate the compost to field capacity (a squeezed handful gives one or two drops of water).
2. Combine with straw, coir or gypsum if required.
3. Heat‑pasteurise, cool below 27 °C, inoculate and incubate.

Pack Size

1kg dehydrated compost in a breathable bag rehydrates to about 3 L of ready‑to‑use substrate.

Tips

• Keep bulk substrate depth ≥ 10 cm for best thermal mass and moisture stability.
• Maintain fresh‑air exchange during fruiting—cow‑based compost can produce extra CO₂.
• Store the dry manure sealed, cool and dry; use within 12 months for peak nutrient value.

Legal & Safety

For cultivating legal mushroom species only. Wear gloves and a dust mask when handling dry compost. Not for direct animal or human consumption. Keep out of reach of children and pets.