Coconut meal as a feed ingredient and source of prebiotic for poultry

Abstract

The low quality protein of coconut meal, coupled with high fibre content, leads to limited use of this agricultural by-product in the poultry diet. Attempts to maximize the amount of coconut meal included in the broiler feed have been made through amino acids supplementation, enzyme addition and pelleting coconut meal. Among these feed technologies and manipulation, pelleting coconut meal appears to be more powerful in promoting the growth of broiler chickens. The reasons for the improvement of broiler growth due to pelleting coconut meal have not been established yet. The mechanisms of improved growth of birds might be through increased feed intake, less energy spent and increased bulk density. Coconut meal contains a high concentration of mannose – based polysaccharides or mannan. This substance has long been believed to have prebiotic properties due to its capability to bind certain species of pathogenic bacteria in the digestive tract of birds. Voluminous reports of the positive effects of mannose-based polysaccharides from yeast have been published. Mannose –based polysaccharides from legumes, on the other hand, have been reported to have anti-nutrient property. Surprisingly, mannose-based polysaccharides from coconut behave like yeast mannan. A number of current studies indicated that mannose based polysaccharides improved body weight gain and feed digestibility. The growth of birds was negatively impacted when the birds were challenged against pathogenic bacteria of E. coli. Wet droppings and diarrhea incidences were not found in E. coli-challenged birds when the diets were supplemented with coconut mannan. In conclusions, coconut meal can be used as a feed ingredient for poultry unless the coconut meal was pelleted or enzymatically treated. Mannose-based polysaccharide from coconut was effective to promote growth and acted as prebiotic.