Higher yields from herbal ingredients

The herbal ingredients are developed to be mixed with
meal. Livestock diets that include such meal with herbal ingredients will eat
more, yield more meat by weight and produce higher quality meat with no
residues. According to Chanjaras Rieodecha, director of the agriculture
division, the research was aimed at serving both farmers and manufacturers
so they can use those herbal ingredients to achieve sustainable development.

Boost for export market
“Using those ingredients will
allow them add more value and boost exports through local wisdom, particularly
herbal knowledge,” Chanjaras said. Herbs that the Thailand Research Fund

selected for research and development include chillies and essential oils from
turmeric. These extracts’ quality is high enough to replace antibiotics in
treating livestock and meet international demands. “Those natural supplements in
feed meal will facilitate the Kingdom’s exports to markets with stringent import
restrictions, such as the European Union,” she said.

Nantawan
Bunyapraphasara, a pharmacy lecturer at Mahidol University, said the project had
mixed extracts of chilli in chicken meal. The results showed that chickens eat
more and yield a better feed conversion ratio. In addition, cholesterol in egg
yolks is reduced to a maximum of 15%.
With pigs, the natural extracts boosted their size by 10%
while lowering fat and enhancing meat quality. She said other oils from herbs
could be developed as essential oils for antiseptic products, particularly for
the dairy industry.

Related link:
Dossier AllAbout plant extracts

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