1. Conduct research in the field of livestock science
2. Develop technologies, products, and knowledge in the field of livestock science.
3. Function as a reference centre for livestock science

1. Breed Development Programme
   • Animal breeding and genetics
   • Livestock reproduction
   • Animal modelling and simulation
   • Beef production
   • Poultry production
   • Small ruminant production
     
     
2. Advanced & Reproductive Technologies Programme
   1. Reproductive Biotechnology
      • Semen collection and processing
      • Artificial Insemination
      • Embryo production and transfer
      • Animal Tissue Culture
        
        
   2. Molecular Biology 
      • Genetic Characterization using DNA markers.
        
        
3. Production System Programme
   • Ruminant production system
   • Non-ruminant production system
   • Pasture and fodder production system
   • Meat Science
   • Dairy Science
   • Livestock economics
     
     
4. Feed & Nutrition Programme
   • Feed chemistry and biochemistry
   • Nutrient digestibility and metabolism (in vitro, in vivo, in sacco)
   • Feed formulation and feeding strategies for livestock.
   • Microbiology and feed safety
   • Animal feed processing and bioprocessing techniques

• 1. Online Goat and Sheep Feed Formulation System
  

  A small ruminant feed formulation system has been developed to facilitate the farmers to formulate their own feed at the lowest price.   This web -based system allows farmers to feed their animals according to physiological stages, thus minimizing the feed cost but meeting the animals’ nutrient requirement. The feed source database contains nutritional values of each feedstuff, therefore farmers can use local feed resources that are abundant in their region. The system also benefits the breeder associations, feed miller and livestock farm operators. It also might serve as a teaching tool as it can be accessed online for free upon registration.

• 2. SNP Molecular Markers for pure Katjang
  

  The SNP marker panel can be used by goat breeders using goat breeds: Katjang, Jamnapari, Boer, Savanna and Kalahari in identifying/verifying the level of authenticity of their parent breed or blood composition of the breed before starting any breeding program. This technology provides a more accurate platform through the application of DNA technology for the identification of pure goat breed composition. This technology can improve the process of goat breed breeding with more accurate detection of the composition of the parent goat breed. As such, the development of a new breeds will be more accurate and effective, directly reducing the costs involved. More accurate detection of purebred goats for breeding programs can be carried out with this method.

• 3. Katjang-Boer Goat Breed (BK)

   

  Katjang (male) and Boer (female) goat were mated through crossbreeding program for three generations. Strict selection is carried out in each generation according to the phenotypic and performance characteristics that have been determined. This technology can improve the performance of local Katjang goats and meet the demand of the local market which targets medium to large goat size around 45-55 kg. Its superior growth and reproductive performance might impact positively on the local small ruminant industry.

• 4. Katjang-Boer precision feeding formulation package
  

  This technology conducts studies on four feed formulations for each stage of production (creep, grower, flushing and maintenance). This technology can help farmers to achieve the optimum weight of Katjang-Boer goats by feeding the animals according to the production stages. This technology can increase the body weight to 35 - 40%.

• 5. Molecular Markers of Katjang-Boer Hybrid Goat
  

  

  The use of molecular markers in the selection of Katjang-Boer goats with high growth performance is suitable for use in the breeding program. The ABGH genotype resulting from the combination of GH1 and GH5 genes has the potential to be used as a molecular marker for high growth performance in Katjang-Boer goats. Genetic markers assist the selection of Katjang-Boer goats that have high growth performance at an early stage i.e. as early as 6 months of age more precisely. With this method, high-potential goats can be selected at an early stage, subsequently can save time and reduce the management costs.

• 6. Kedah-Kelantan Elite (KK Elite) Beef Cattle Breed
  

  Kedah-Kelantan is Malaysian indigenous cattle breed. The male KK Elite cattle can reach 430-460 kg of body weight at the age of 3-4 years old and daily weight gain up to 0.8 kg/day under the intensive system compared to the original breed which weighed around 220-250 kg and daily weight gain at 0.35 kg/day.  It has a larger body size than the local indigenous KK cattle breed in terms of average body length, height and circumference.  After generations of breeding and selection program, a group of KK Elite cattle has been established in the nucleus farm with uniform phenotypic characteristics. 

• 7. Molecular markers for selected breeds of Brakmas and Kedah-Kelantan
  

  The SNP marker panel can be used by cattle breeders in the identification/verification of the level of purity of the breed or the blood composition of the breed before starting any breeding program. Compared to conventional methods used through physical identification is inaccurate because it is influenced by external factors such as the environment and skills/experience of the breeder. This technology provides a more concrete, precise and accurate platform through the application of the latest DNA technology for the identification of purebred cattle composition.

• 8. Precise nutrition technology of Brakmas and Kedah-Kelantan breeds
  

  A total of four feed formulations based on the cattle production stages were developed, namely a) flushing/pre breeding, b) breeding, c) Lactating and d) Grower. Each feed formulation might improve an animal’s performance in terms of average daily gain (ADG), pregnancy rate, birth rate and higher weaning weight.

  1. Brakmas Breed:
     Average daily gain (ADG) for flushing stage was 0.714 kg/day (increased 34.7%), while the pregnancy rate, calving rate and weaning weight were 71.4% (increased 10.2%), 65.7% (increased 5%) and 143.0 kg (an increase of 24.3%), respectively. The ADG was recorded at 0.614 kg/day (an increase of 30.1%) during the growing phase.
     
     
  2. KK Elite Breed:
     Average daily gain (ADG) during flushing stage was 0.960 kg/day (increased 22.6%), while the pregnancy rate, calving rate and weaning weight were 88.7% (increased 32.9%), 83.3% (increased 24.9%) and 105.6 kg (an increase of 12.9%), respectively. The ADG during growing stage was recorded at 0.620 kg (an increase of 29.2%).
• 9. Technology of Ayam SAGA and chicken feed formulations based on local sources for national food and feed security.
  

  

  Ayam Saga is a superior village chicken breed of dual-purpose that was announced on MAHA 2012. Research has been underway since 2008 using local village chicken genetic resources. Through a program of crossbreeding and rigorous selection over nine generations, a stable and superior strain of Ayam Saga has been developed. In addition, MARDI has been successful in producing two types of village chicken feed formulations based on palm kernel expeller (PKE), known as PKfeed, as well as a broken rice-based diet. The use of these local ingredients could replace more than 40% of imported corn and soybean meal. The growth performances of the Ayam Saga fed PKfeed were comparable to those of the chickens fed commercial feed.

• 10. Xantophylls enriched eggs in Lohman Brown

        

  Xanthophyll-enriched eggs are a type of designer eggs that provides consumers with more nutrition and eye protection than regular eggs. The eggs have more xanthophylls, which are good for the eyes and the brain. They are produced by Lohmann Brown laying hens fed with natural sources of xanthophylls. The eggs have four times as much xanthophylls as regular eggs and have a deeper yolk colour. Xanthophylls may prevent eye diseases such as age-related macular degeneration, improve brain function, protect against inflammation and cancer. They are also easy to produce without extra costs or changes for the producers.

1. Mohd Hafiz, A. W., Mohamad Hifzan , R., Izuan Bahtiar, A.J., Mohd Rosly, S. and Marini, A.M. (2022). Corak pertumbuhan lembu Brakmas. Buletin Teknologi MARDI 31, 159-166.
2. Mohd Hafiz, A. W., Mohamad Hifzan, R., Izuan Bahtiar, A. J., and Nurulhuda, M. O. (2021). "Evaluation of principal component analysis in animal breeding and selection in the breed improvement program of Male Katjang-Boer Crossbred," Malaysian Journal ofAnimal Science, Vol. 24, No. pp. 33-40.
3. Nik Siti Mariani, W. H., Wan Zahari, M., Marini, A. M., Abd Rahman, A., Shanmugavelu,S., and Halimatun, Y. (2021).  "Effect of two levels of selenium supplementation on the libido,scrotal circumference, sperm quality and testosterone levels of matured Boer bucks," Tropical Animal Science Journal, Vol. 44, No. 5,.
4. Nik Siti Mariani, W. H., Marini, A. M., Wan Zahari, M., Shanmugavelu, S., and Halimatun,Y. (2021). "Effect of two levels of organic selenium supplementation on the nutrient digestibilityof matured Boer bucks," Malaysia Journal of Anmial Science, Vol. 24, No. 1, pp.23-32.
5. Predith, M., Mohamad Hifzan, R., and Mohd Azlan, P. (2021). "Evaluation Of Nutritional Needs, Body Weight Gain And Economic Viability Of Stage Feeding On Katjang-Boer CrossbredGoats," Malaysian Journal of Veterinary Science, Vol. 12, No. 1, pp. 21-33.
6. Yong, S. T., Tan, H. Y., Noraini, S., and Wong, H. K. (2021).  "The effect of high monacolin Kred yeast rice supplement on performance, egg quality, egg yolk cholesterol, plasmalipids and enzyme profile of laying hens," Animal Production Science, Vol. 61, No. 16, pp. 1672-1779.
7. Mohd Hafiz, A. W., Mohamad Hifzan, R., Izuan Bahtiar, A. J., and Nurulhuda, M. O. (2020). "Estimation of body weight growth curve parameters of Katjang-Boer crossbred.," MJAS,Vol. 23, No. 2, pp. 40-46.
8. Predith, M., Shanmugavelu, S., Mohamad Hifzan, R., and Mohd Hafiz, A. W. (2020). "Pre-weaning growth performance of F1 dan F2 Katjang-Boer crossbreds fed formulated creep feed.," MJAS, Vol. 23, No. 2, pp. 62-71.
9. Predith, M., Shanmugavelu, S., Marini, A. M., and Nasyatul Ekma, M. H. (2020).  "Evaluation of raw oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB) and OPEFB silage (with or without 5% molasses) as a roughage source in ruminant feed through proximate analysis, in vitro and in saccostudies.," Journal of Tropical Agriculture and Food Science.
10. Mohd Hafiz, A. W., Marini, A. M., Mohd Rosly, S., Mohamad Hifzan, R., Izuan Bahtiar, A.J., and Shanmugavelu, S. (2019). "Describing growth pattern of selected Kedah-Kelantan cows using non-linear regression models," Mal.J.Anim.Sci., Vol. 22, No. 1, pp. 47-54.
11. Roziatul Erin, A. R., Sarah, R., Norham, I., and Noraini, S., (2019). "Effects of different energy and protein levels on growth performance of MARDI village chicken or Ayam Kampung MARDI (AKM) at breeder phase,"Mal.J.Anim.Sci., pp. 123.
12. Mohd Hafiz, A. W., Mohamad Hifzan, R., Mohd Ariff, O., Izuan Bahtiar, A. J., and Faezal Ashraff, A. L. (2018).  "Comparison of growth pattern of body weight in Brakmas and Bali cattleusing non-linear regression models," Malaysian Journal Animal Science.
13. Mohd Hafiz, A. W., Mohamad Hifzan, R., Mohd Ariff, O., Izuan Bahtiar, A. J., and Faezal Ashraff, A. L. (2018). "Comparison of growth pattern of body weight in Brakmas and Bali cattleusing non-linear regression models," Malaysian Journal Animal Science.
14. Predith, M., Chung, E. L. T., Muhammad Hazwan, M., Marini, A. M., Mohamad Hifzan, R.,and Noor Athirah, M. A. (2018). "Nutritive values of selected Malaysian agricultural by-products commonly used in cattle rations," Malaysian Journal Animal Science, Vol. 21, No. 2, pp. 77-89.

DIRECTOR,
LIVESTOCK SCIENCE RESEARCH CENTER,
MARDI HEADQUARTERS,
PERSIARAN MARDI-UPM,
43400 SERDANG, SELANGOR

TEL:03-89536660           FAX: 03-89536666