Golden Mushrooms on a Cow Pie

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Cattle thrive on grasses, thanks to fungi like mushrooms that break down cellulose into proteins and sugars through a process known as white or brown rot. Bacteria such as yeast feed on these sugars, producing even more nutrients for the cow. Mushroom spores are constantly dispersed by wind onto grass blades, ensuring their presence everywhere. The mushroom itself is merely the visible part of a vast fungal network growing within cow manure and being cultivated in the animal's gut. Digestion is actually a controlled process of fermentation, not just decay. Moreover, additives intended to slow down spoilage in human food might inadvertently harm or kill the very organisms responsible for digestion.