By: Azman Zakaria
Photos by: Muhamad Zaid Nor Akahbar
SERDANG, Jan 8 - Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) will conduct a research on the formulation of feed for free-range chicken (Ayam Kampung) using the larvae of Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia illucens).
The research team from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, UPM will be headed by Dr. Hasliza Abu Hassim. Other researchers involved are Assoc. Prof. Dr. Azhar Kasim, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mohd Hezmee Mohd Noor, Dr. Lokman Hakim Idris and Dr. Hafandi Ahmad.
The study will be conducted in collaboration with BETSOL Sdn. Bhd. who awarded a research grant of RM70,000 to the research group.
The handover of the research grant check replica was presented by the Managing Director of BETSOL Sdn. Bhd., Jamiah Zainal Abidin to Prof. Dr. Goh Yong Meng who represented the Dean of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. The ceremony was witnessed by the Director of Research Management Centre (RMC), UPM, Prof. Dr. Mohammad Hamiruce Marhaban.
According to Dr. Hasliza, the poultry industry which involves various categories such as broiler chicken, egg laying hen, free-range chicken, broiler breeder, duck and quail, is a large-scale industry in Malaysia.
She said the poultry industry is also an advanced industry and guarantees good economic income due to the high demand for chickens and eggs in this country.
According to her, the current self-sufficiency level (SSL) and the sufficiency of chicken meat supply in Malaysia is almost 100 percent thus, enabling the country to export 54 million chicken and chicken egg supplies to Singapore each year.
"Although the industry is said to be growing rapidly, there is no guarantee for its sustainability as we are still importing chicken feed," she said.
Hence, she said, UPM in collaboration with BETSOL Sdn. Bhd. will conduct a research on the formulation of chicken feed for free-range chicken using the larvae of black soldier fly.
The larvae of Hermetia illucens have the potential of being one of the sources of protein in the feed of free-range chickens. The larvae, produced through the bio-recycling process of food wastes, can also help in addressing various issues in food waste.
At the presentation of the research grant ceremony, a seminar titled "Sustainable development towards food safety and biodiversity approach in poultry production," was also conducted by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Azhar who delivered a talk on the development of feed for free-range chickens, while the talk by Dr. Jeffery Keith Tomberlin highlighted the benefits of using natural resources in addressing the issue of the global poultry feed. - UPM
