KUALA LUMPUR – Amid rising prices of livestock feed, the Plantation Industries and Commodities Ministry is promoting the use of palm kernel waste as feed to ensure Malaysia’s poultry supply is sustainable.
Its minister Datuk Seri Zuraida Kamaruddin said that with chicken feed prices going up from RM500 per tonne to RM1,900 in some cases, the animals are being fed less, causing a drop in production.
“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.
“However, Malaysia’s oil palm plantations produce huge supplies of palm kernel waste. Past research has shown that feeding fermented palm kernel cake (PKC) and high dietary fat to broilers can be a good substitute for the imported feed,” she said in a statement.
Currently, Malaysia’s PKCs are exported to the European cattle industry.
She said her ministry will also work with relevant agencies, government-linked companies 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.
Last week, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced that the government would ban all poultry exports from June 1 onwards as it tried to stabilise product supply and prices locally.
He said the government was considering the use of corn as an alternative to chicken feed, while government-linked companies, agencies and farmers’ groups were also encouraged to be involved in poultry farming.
Additionally, Ismail Sabri announced that APs for wheat exports had been revoked, while all ministries had been instructed to list down the APs of other products that could be similarly abolished.
He said the government was aware of reports of the existence of cartels controlling the price and supply of chickens among the bigger companies, and that a probe into the matter by the Malaysia Competition Commission was expected to conclude in June. – The Vibes, May 31, 2022
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