Minister in the Ministry of Plantation Industries and Commodities, Datuk Zuraida Kamaruddin said the Ministry will step up efforts to promote the use of palm kernel waste as animal feed to ensure Malaysia has sustainable supply of chickens in the long run.
- The country is currently facing a price increase in chicken supply due to producers finding feed costs untenable as most are being imported from European countries. It has been reported that chicken feed had gone up from RM500 per tonne to RM1,900 per tonne in some cases. As a result, chickens were being fed less, causing the livestock to grow slower than normal, and in the process restricting the supply of the birds. Malaysia imports most of its chicken feed, mostly made of grain like corn and soybean. These items are facing worldwide shortage due to the war in Ukraine and uncertain weather patterns.
- The Minister adds Malaysia’s oil palm plantations produce huge supplies of palm kernel waste, noting past research that has shown that feeding fermented palm kernel cake (PKC) and high dietary fat to broilers, can be a good substitute for the imported feed which almost all commercial chicken farms can use. She said MPIC will also hold discussions with other stakeholders to review the export policy on PKC in favour of local broilers. Right now, a lot of our PKC is exported to the European cattle industry. The Ministry Zuraida says, will also work with relevant agencies, government-linked companies (GLCs), and State Governments to urgently look into how it can quickly ensure the availability of palm kernel waste as animal feed for the Malaysian poultry industry.
- Additionally, the MPIC will also be working closely with research institutes such as public universities to look into ways to enhance the quality of PKC to make it the preferred choice for chicken breeders. This includes ways of reducing the fibre content in the PKC.
