Research Programme

PROGRAMME 1: NOVEL FEED RESILIENT TO CLIMATE CHANGE CHALLENGES FOR SUSTAINABLE ANIMAL PRODUCTION IN THE TROPICS

The first response of animal to high ambient temperature is reduction in feed intake resulting in low nutrient intake and thus animal performance.  Issues associated with feeding approach and limited feed availability are among the challenges that must be overcome to drive the Malaysian ruminant industry forward.   Hence the main focus of the programme is the development of novel feeds capable of delivering the essential nutrients to the animal in the various production systems in the hot environment. Since large acreage of good pasture is not available, the ruminant industry has to depend on agro-industrial byproducts such as rice straw and oil palm fronds as sources of roughage. The programme encompasses  various studies in feeding strategies and feed technologies to enhance the yield and quality of  meat and dairy products. Feeding strategies are based on the use of local feed ingredients to enhance bypass nutrients (bypass starch and protein) and rice straw silage as the source of roughage  and the use of bioactive metabolites for metabolomic manipulation of the rumen microbes to enhance the polyunsaturated fatty acid (omega fatty acid and conjugated linoleic acids) in the meat and milk.   The feed technology focuses on the selection of rice straw with low anti-nutritive factors and ensiling methods for enhancing the nutritive value as well as keeping quality. The translational technologies developed in the production of novel animal feeds should enhance resilience to the challenges in climate change for sustainable animal production.    

PROGRAMME 2: ENHANCING STRESS TOLERANCE TO IMPROVE PERFORMANCE, MEAT QUALITY AND WELFARE IN ANIMALS

Climatic factors are among the first and crucial limiting factors in the development of animal production in warm regions. In addition, global warming will further accentuate heat stress-related problems. Heat stress may cause morbidity, mortality, reduced performance, resulting in dramatic economic losses and animal welfare concerns. Because of the recognition that high ambient temperature is a current and a future critical problem for livestock production, the programme is undertaken to elucidate the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms in response to hot environment which would provide the basis to enhance resilience in poultry and ruminants in the context of tropical production systems. Heat shock proteins (HSP) are essential for cellular survival from heat stress and other types of environmental physiological challenges. In a heat-shocked cell, the HSP may bind to the heat-sensitive proteins and protect them from degradation, or may prevent damaged proteins from immediately precipitating and permanently affecting cell viability. The mechanisms by which HSP elicit adaptation and provide protection against cellular stress in poultry and other farm animals will be ascertained in this programme. We will also focus on the modulating role of HSP in production, meat quality, health and welfare of animals. The interaction between nutrition and induction of HSP will also elucidated.

Updated:: 30/08/2021 [s_hasimah]