July 8, 2009
Malaysia succeeds in producing feed pellets with oil palm frond
The Federal Land Development Authority (Felda) with the cooperation of the Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI) have successfully ventured into ruminant food production using oil palm fronds.
The venture has resulted in the world''s first factory producing animal feed pellets using oil palm fronds. It is in operation for a year now.
The pellets, manufactured using technology from Japan and Germany, has reportedly good demand from the market and even livestock breeders from Canada and South Korea have shown interest in buying the product.
Jamil Md Yasin, the manager of the Kilang Oil Palm Frond (OPF), said the factory was built on 1.5 hectares of land at a cost of MYR14.1 million (US$4 million).
"The factory produces feed pellets for cows and goats and our aim is to emerge as the nation''s foremost animal feed supplier," he said.
The factory produces two types of pellets, blended and the plain fronds. The blended pellets, which are free from toxic substances, heavy metals and other harmful elements, are specially formulated to enhance the physiological and physical development of the animal, said Jamil.
The blended feed pellets are sold at MYR30 for a 40 kg bag, and the pellet made from 100 percent fresh palm frond is sold at MYR17 for a 40kg bag," he said.
Pellets made from 100 percent fresh fronds can last up to two years but the blended pellets only lasts up to three months.
In a study it was found that a beef cow consuming seven kg pellets daily gained weight between 0.8 kg and one kg per day while dairy cows daily fed 14 kg of the feed could produce up to 21 litres of milk per day.
The factory can produce about 3,600 tonnes of pellets per month, said Jamil.