Animal Science and Zoology, Agricultural and Biological Sciences
97
Scopus Publications
Scopus Publications
Enhanced Mushroom Cultivation Using Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunch Waste: Insights from Transcriptomic and Lignocellulose Degradation Studies Aslizah Mohd-Aris, Nur Fariha Amir, Amatul Hamizah Ali, Md. Ali Amatul-Samahah, Farida Zuraina Mohd Yusof, et al. Sains Malaysiana, 2026 Volvariella volvacea is a nutritional and pharmacologically valuable tropical mushroom. Yet, its potential as a sustainable food source and bioremediation agents remains underutilised. This study evaluated the efficiency of oil palm empty fruit bunches (OPEFB) as a lignocellulosic substrate to enhance the growth and biological efficiency (BE) of V. volvacea. Among the tested formulations, F3 (OPEFB supplemented with black soil) produced the highest yield (11 kg) and a BE of 17.75%. F3 also showed a high cellulose degradation rate (34.14%) and reduced lignin content (5.55%). Transcriptomic profiling showed that key lignocellulolytic genes were strongly expressed during the pinhead (Stage 1) developmental stage, correlating positively with the improved substrate conversion observed in F3. Overall, the findings highlight the synergistic interaction between fungal and soil-associated microbial communities in promoting enzymatic degradation and advancing sustainable utilisation of OPEFB for mushroom cultivation.
The role of tannin-based products in mitigating enteric methane emissions in ruminant livestock: A review Roni Pazla, Antonius Antonius, Aslizah Mohd-Aris, Zaitul Ikhlas, Yelly Fitri, et al. Journal of Advanced Veterinary and Animal Research, 2026 Global greenhouse gas accumulation receives significant contributions from methane emitted by ruminant livestock, thereby exacerbating climate change. Tannin-based feed additives are being investigated by researchers as a potential means to alter rumen fermentation and reduce methanogenesis. The researchers build on previous studies on the impact of tannins on methane reduction in the digestive tract and investigate the biological mechanisms of tannins, which are coupled with the potential of animal feed sources. Tannins kill methanogenic archaea by reducing protozoa and altering volatile fatty acid composition. This simultaneously results in reduced meth¬ane emissions and improved feed and nitrogen utilization efficiency. As a result, animal production is made more efficient by the reduction of nitrogen excretion and the enhancement of protein metabolism. The use of tannins, essential oils, biochar, and probiotics together is being researched as a way to treat the diet. Yet there are still issues, such as the adverse effects of tannins on nutrition, inconsistent tannin supply across sources, and microbial adaptation over time. The effec¬tiveness of tannins also varies and is connected to the plant source, concentration, and processing methods. Besides, scientists are developing encapsulation methods and selecting optimal feeding protocols to increase tannin effectiveness while minimizing unwanted effects. Future researchers must improve the administration techniques for tannins, develop more efficient delivery systems, and conduct a comprehensive assessment of how tannins affect rumen microbiome health and animal performance. Tannin application emerges as an ecological approach that serves sustainabil¬ity in livestock management systems and helps environmental adaptation practices.
In vitro characterization of coconut waste-derived indigenous microorganisms as probiotic and synbiotic candidates for sustainable poultry production Hera Dwi Triani, Muhammad Amri, Toni Malvin, Ibran Eka Putra, Wulansih Dwi Astuti, et al. Veterinary World, 2026 Background and Aim: The global restriction on antibiotic growth promoters (AGPs) in poultry production due to antimicrobial resistance concerns has accelerated the search for effective, sustainable alternatives. Probiotics derived from agricultural by-products offer a promising strategy to enhance gut health and productivity while reducing environmental waste. Coconut-waste, including coconut water and pulp, is rich in fermentable substrates that support the growth of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and the production of functional metabolites. This study aimed to perform an integrated in vitro characterization of indigenous microorganisms derived from coconut-waste fermentation as potential probiotic and synbiotic candidates for sustainable poultry production. Materials and Methods: Indigenous microorganism solutions (IMOS) were produced through anaerobic fermentation of coconut water and coconut pulp for 5, 10, 15, and 20 days using a completely randomized design with four treatments and five replicates. Physicochemical properties (pH, LAB counts), enzymatic activities (cellulase and mannanase), tolerance to simulated gastrointestinal conditions (acidic pH 2.5, bile salts at 0.3% and 0.5%, and thermal exposure at 42°C), cell surface hydrophobicity, antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp., and Staphylococcus aureus, and short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production were evaluated using standard microbiological and analytical methods. Results: Fermentation duration significantly influenced all evaluated parameters (p < 0.05). IMOS fermented for 15 days exhibited the lowest pH (3.19 ± 0.02), the highest LAB population (2.05 ± 0.13 × 10¹¹ CFU/mL), optimal cellulase (12.50 ± 0.15 U/mL) and mannanase activities (20.48 ± 0.13 U/mL), and the greatest cell surface hydrophobicity (95.09 ± 0.35%). LAB survival remained high under simulated gastrointestinal stress, reaching 80.23 ± 4.12% at pH 2.5 (6 h), 71.45 ± 0.56% in 0.5% bile salts, and 8.09 ± 0.35 × 10¹¹ CFU/mL at 42°C. Antimicrobial assays demonstrated complete inhibition of E. coli after 24 h at 15 days of fermentation. Acetate (3.34–3.43 g/L) and butyrate (0.66–0.71 g/L) were the dominant SCFAs detected. Conclusion: Coconut waste–derived IMOS demonstrates strong in vitro probiotic and synbiotic characteristics and represents a low-cost, environmentally sustainable functional feed additive for poultry. Fermentation for 15 days yielded optimal functional properties. Further in vivo validation is warranted to confirm efficacy under practical production conditions. Keywords: acid tolerance, antimicrobial activity, coconut-waste, Escherichia coli, lactic acid bacteria, poultry probiotics, short-chain fatty acids, synbiotic feed additive.
