AZOLLA-BIOTECH ANIMAL FEED (ABAF) AS A POTENTIAL OPTION FOR HALAL ANIMAL FEED
Rohana Mat Nor, Tengku Elida Tengku Zainal Mulok, Wan Nurhayati Wan Hanafi,
Wan Rozianoor Mohd Hasan and Aimi Nadia Ramli
Faculty of Applied Sciences, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia
Email: rohana_micro@uitm.edu.my
Abstract: Azolla-BioTech Animal Feed (ABAF) is prepared through solid state fermentation of Azolla sp., a water fern, using a consortium of selected microbes. The fern is relatively easy to grow, doubling time of 2-3 days only and suitable to grow throughout the year, has made the plant a great choice for feed crop. Although Azolla has considerably high protein content with complete vitamins and minerals, but it also contains antinutritional factors (ANFs) such as tannin, saponin and insoluble cellulose. The presence of ANFs hinders the optimal adsorption of nutrients in animal digestive system. Amazingly, these ANFs are not detected in ABAF. Microbes with specific capabilities has converted Azolla sp. into a functional feed, whereby the dietry nutrients are efficiently ingested, digested, adsorbed and transported to animal body cells in order to supply all the nutritional requirement needed. Furthermore, the amount of protein content has also increased by 5-10%. ABAF has been tested on two aquatic species, red tilapia (Oreochromis sp.) and freshwater lobster (Cherax quadricarinatus), and their growth rate has evidently comparable to that of control feed. Impressively, omega 3 has increased more than double in tested tilapia. The feed is without additional chemicals and other harmful substances, hence it would be a safe, nutritious, low cost with shariah compliance status.
Keywords: Azolla, halal animal feed, solid state fermentation, microbial consortium
- ROHANA MAT NOR
- PROF MADYA DR TENGKU ELIDA TENGKU ZAINAL MULOK
- DR WAN NURHAYATI WAN HANAFI
- DR WAN ROZIANOOR WAN HASSAN
- CIK AIMI NADIA RAMLI
