Poultry research innovations aim to improve production and genetics

Researchers at Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) have developed a plantain-based feed additive designed to lower poultry production costs and reduce reliance on imported medicines and growth promoters. Led by Professor Mohammad Al Mamun, the research suggests the additive can increase omega-3 fatty acids in meat by 8 per cent, enhance antioxidant properties, and improve heat stress tolerance in broiler chickens.

Separately, the Participatory Indigenous Chicken Breed Improvement Programme (PIC-BIP) has received the ISSCA Global Award 2026 for its work in livestock improvement. Developed by the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) and supported by ACIAR, the project focuses on strengthening smallholder poultry production through community-based breeding systems. In Cambodia, the initiative has worked with local authorities and farmer groups to establish breeding farms, helping rural households access better quality breeding stock while maintaining valued local characteristics.