103 / 2024-10-26 11:49:54

Palm Waste as Prebiotics to Prevent Avian Influenza (PASITIVE)

Avian influenza (AI), commonly known as bird flu, is a viral disease with zoonotic potential that can cause severe outbreaks in wild and domestic birds, occasionally spilling over into humans and other mammals. Sialic acid production and concentration must be stable to improve animal health and decrease susceptibility to AI. N-acetylmanosamine (ManNac), formed by bacteria in the digestive system using mannose sugar, a prebiotic, can be employed to carry out this method. Through this research, palm kernel meal, a by-product of the palm oil industry, was fermented and used as a prebiotic that could be added to feed to preserve the stability of sialic acid production in a bird's respiratory tract and improve the gut health system.

It was added to the feed at concentrations of 0, 10, and 20% to assess the prebiotic's impact on the chickens' health. When we added 2.5%, chickens grew well without any issues. However, with a higher concentration of 10%, the chickens didn’t produce as big, and they needed more food to reach the same size. Additionally, chickens that consumed more palm kernel meal showed some changes in digestive organs, which indicates that it helps break down food better. Furthermore, one of the most significant benefits was the cost savings. Including 2.5% palm kernel meal results in higher sales revenue and income over feed cost (IOFC) compared to control feed and higher inclusion levels. Thus, it helps improve chicken health and growth while reducing the need for expensive feed ingredients like corn and soybeans, making broiler chicken production more economically efficient. More importantly, by promoting gut health, the prebiotic properties of palm kernel meal also help chickens develop more robust immune systems.