Tropical Feed Resource Research and Development Center (TROFREC)

ศูนย์วิจัยและพัฒนาทรัพยากรอาหารสัตว์เขตร้อน

Tropical Feed Resources Research and Development Center (TROFREC), Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Khon Kaen University,Thailand,40002
Tel.+66-43202368
Email: trofrec@kku.ac.th
https://home.kku.ac.th/trofrec/

Background

The establishment of the Tropical Feed Resource Center in the Faculty of Articulately , at Khon Kaen University is both a timely and appropriate development. Current A considerable component of Thai agriculture is based at a subsistence level. It will be necessary for this system to continue to evolve at a variety of levels of scale, including commercial agricultural systems producing products for sale. These systems should be sustainable with regards to having a reduced reliance on imports and increased reliance on locally produced feed resources. They should also pay regard to environmental and disease considerations. It is important for work within Thailand not to proceed in isolation but for results of work conducted in Thailand to be available elsewhere in the tropics and for the findings of work conducted elsewhere to be available to researchers, extension workers and farmers in Thailand. It is with this background that a specific research center has been established within Khon Kaen University in accord with the policy direction of the National Research plan 6 (2002-2006) , on 10th June, 2002. The Research Center will have staff with the capabilities and resources to under take research of a high, international quality. This would will use both conventional methodologies and use appropriate new technologies from related academic fields. Feed is an important factor attributing to livestock production system to increase efficiency and / or to lower cost of production. In Thailand, there are many kinds of feedstuffs with diversity in quantity and quality. Their uses in producing meat , milk and egg can be exploited efficiently. Moreover , development of value-added feed products can be further exported to foreign markets as a means to obtain national income. Thailand is situated in tropical area and has many similarities with a number of tropical countries. Research work generate in Thailand can also be transferred and modified for use in other countries. The main objective of establishing TROFREC is to conduct relevant research activities with feed development and utilization in improving livestock production and to foster and strengthen collaborations with other institutions both in Thailand and in other countries. Therefore, Department of Animal Science. Faculty of Agriculture, KhonKaen University has deemed necessary and pampered the importance of TROFREC in accordance with increasing needs of feed resources and their uses for efficient animal production.

Goal & Mission

Goals

To conduct basic and applied research on tropical feed resources. This will involve both conventional approaches and the use of appropriate new technologies.
To capacity build by training students at Bachelor , Master and Doctorate level and by conducting continuing professional development courses on tropical feed resources.
To develop and extend appropriate technologies on tropical feed resources to researchers , extension workers and farmers both within Thailand and internationally.

Objectives

To conduct research and produce a data base on feed resources and appropriate technologies relevant to the tropics.
To produce appropriately trained researchers who are able to conduct research and develop technologies appropriate to animal feed resources in the tropics.
To create a research center which will establish a network of co-operation with similar institutes of research in feed resources both within Thailand, the Asian region and globally.
To disseminate information by a variety of means ,on feed resources both nationally and internationally.
To create appropriate standards for the collection ,interpretation and dissemination of information on feed resources both nationally and internationally.

Director

Professor Dr. Metha Wanapat

Tropical Feed Resources Research and Development Center (TROFREC), Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Khon Kaen University,Thailand,40002

Email: metha@kku.ac.th
Tel:

Research Team

Prof.Dr.Metha Wanapat, Ruminant Nutrition, Animal Science
Prof.Dr.Boonrue Wilaipon, Forage Topical, Animal Science
Assoc.Prof.Dr.Jowaman Khajarern, Nutrition, Animal Science
Assoc.Prof. Terdsak Khammeng, Animal Production, Animal Science
Assoc.Prof.Dr. Suthipong Uriyapongson, Meat Science, Animal Science
Assoc.Prof.Dr.Chalong Wachirapakorn, Ruminant Nutrition, Animal Science
Assoc.Prof.Dr.Krittapon Sommart, Ruminant Feed, Animal Science
Assoc.Prof.Dr.Pornchai Lowilai, Forage and Crop, Animal Science
Assist.Prof.Dr.Parwadee Pakdee, Animal Science, Animal Science
Assoc.Prof.Suradej Pholsen, Forge and Crop, Animal Science
Assist.Pitcharat Sanchaisuriya, Animal Production, Animal Science
Dr.Suwit Terapuntuwat, Animal Feeds, Animal Science
Assoc.Dr.Virote Pattarajinda, Management and Feed, Animal Science
Dr.Vinai Jaikan, Animal Science, Animal Science

Recent Publication

Roughage to Concentrate Ratio and Saccharomyces cerevisiae Inclusion Could Modulate Feed Digestion and In Vitro Ruminal Fermentation
K Phesatcha, B Phesatcha, M Wanapat, A Cherdthong
Veterinary Sciences 7 (4), 151 2020
Enhancing lactating dairy cow rumen fermentation and production with Flemingia silage containing phytonutrients
B Viennasay, M Wanapat
Livestock Science 241, 104201 2020
Effect of Flemingia macrophylla silage on in vitro fermentation characteristics and reduced methane production
B Viennasay, M Wanapat, P Totakul, B Phesatcha, T Ampapon, …
Animal Production Science 60 (16), 1918-1924 2020
Effect of yeast-fermented de-hulled rice on in vitro gas production, nutrient degradability, and rumen fermentation
P Totakul, T Ampapon, S Foiklang, S Uriyapongson, S Sommai, M Matra, …
Tropical Animal Health and Production, 1-7 2020
Improving sugarcane bagasse quality as ruminant feed with Lactobacillus, cellulase, and molasses
S So, A Cherdthong, M Wanapat
Journal of Animal Science and Technology 62 (5), 648 2020
Comparison effects of ruminal Crabtree-negative yeasts and Crabtree-positive yeasts for improving ensiled rice straw quality and ruminal digestion using in vitro gas production
C Suntara, A Cherdthong, S Uriyapongson, M Wanapat, P Chanjula
Journal of Fungi 6 (3), 109 1 2020
Effects of yeast cell wall on the growth performance, ruminal fermentation, and microbial community of weaned calves
J Ma, AM Shah, Y Shao, Z Wang, H Zou, R Hu, Q Peng, K Kang, …
Livestock Science 239, 104170 2020
Dragon fruit (Hylocereus undatus) peel pellet as a rumen enhancer in Holstein crossbred bulls
M Matra, P Totakul, B Viennasay, B Phesatcha, M Wanapat
Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences 2020
Enriching the Nutritive Value of Marigold (Tagetes Erecta L) Crop Residues as a Ruminant Feed by Lactic Acid During Ensilage
Z Hou, J Liu, M Cai, Y Liu, L Mu, Y Gao, M Wanapat, B Huang
2020
Assessment of cutting time on nutrient values, in vitro fermentation and methane production among three ryegrass cultivars
C Wang, F Hou, M Wanapat, T Yan, EJ Kim, ND Scollan
Asian-Australasian journal of animal sciences 33 (8), 1242 2020
Potential use of Flemingia (Flemingia macrophylla) as a protein source fodder to improve nutrients digestibility, ruminal fermentation efficiency in beef cattle
B Phesatcha, M Wanapat, B Viennasay
Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences 2020
Fermented sugarcane bagasse with Lactobacillus combined with cellulase and molasses promotes in vitro gas kinetics, degradability, and ruminal fermentation …
S So, A Cherdthong, M Wanapat, S Uriyapongson
Animal biotechnology, 1-12 2020
Chemical Composition of Milk and Rumen Microbiome Diversity of Yak, Impacting by Herbage Grown at Different Phenological Periods on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau
Q Fan, M Wanapat, F Hou
Animals 10 (6), 1030 2020
Rapeseed pod meal can replace concentrate and enhance utilization of feed on in vitro gas production and fermentation characteristics
M Wanapat, B Huang, B Viennasay, P Totakul, M Matra, B Phesatcha, …
Tropical Animal Health and Production 2020
Effect of a high forage: concentrate ratio on milk yield, blood parameters and oxidative status in lactating cows
N Musco, R Tudisco, M Grossi, V Mastellone, VM Morittu, ME Pero, …
Animal Production Science 2020
Strategic Supplementation of Flemingia Silage to Enhance Rumen Fermentation Efficiency, Microbial Protein Synthesis and Methane Mitigation in Beef Cattle
B Viennasay, M Wanapat
2020
Dietary rambutan peel powder as a rumen modifier in beef cattle
T Ampapon, M Wanapat
Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences 33 (5), 763 2020
Rumen fermentation kinetics as impacted by red amaranth (Amaranthus cruentus, L) leaf powder using in vitro gas production technique
T Ampapon, B Viennasay, M Wanapat
2020
Nutritional status of grazing Lowline Angus crossbred supplemented with fermented cassava starch residue.
R Pilajun, W Inthiseang, W Kaewluan, M Wanapat, R Lunsin
Tropical animal health and production 2020
Cistanche deserticola Addition Improves Growth, Digestibility, and Metabolism of Sheep Fed on Fresh Forage from Alfalfa/Tall Fescue Pasture
X Liu, F Liu, T Yan, S Chang, M Wanapat, F Hou
Animals 10 (4), 668

Research Highlight

ROFREC Mission

Requirement to archive objective

»	Establish of Tropical Feed Resource Research&Development Center (TROFREC) and of an appropriate management structure to ensure adequate personnel and equipment on a continuing basis.
»	Establishment of an information system which will collate available feed resource data from national and international sources. This will be for the benefit of farmers and advisors at both subsistence and commercial levels to increase the economic sustainability of livestock production systems.
»	Improvement of profitability of national livestock production systems by managing a system of education and research into the use of appropriate technologies using locally available feed resources.
»	Establishment of a research network involving collaboration with other researchers and institutions both in the tropics (Thailand, Asian countries and Asia) and temperate areas of the world.

Planned areas of research and development

Ruminants
»	Improvement in the efficiency of the use of crop by – products in ruminant livestock systems.
»	The uses of locally available feed resources and their effect on rumen fermentation.
»	The potential of livestock to utilize by – products from cropping within crop livestock farming systems.
»	Increase the efficient use of locally available feed resources( eg. cassava, sugarcane) in place of expensive imported feed materials.
»	The role of feed resources , including strategic use of high quality materials , to improve production of quality animal products.

Non-ruminants
»	Investigation into the use of locally available medicinal herb as additives for non- ruminants (swine, poultry, aquatic).
»	Processing of crop by – products for their use as feeds in commercial non-ruminant systems.
»	Investigation into the role of non-ruminants to utilize crop by – products within crop livestock farming systems.
»	The use of feed resources , including strategic use of high quality materials , to improve production of quality animal products.
»	Monitoring of levels of anti-nutritive factors ( especially toxins) in tropical feed resources.

Forage crops
»	Investigation into grass/legume mixes to improve ruminant nutrition.
»	Availability of fresh and conserved forages as ruminant feeds during the dry season.
»	Studies on the breeding and selection of appropriate varieties of grasses and legumes for specific tropical regions.
»	Studies on establishment of forage crops in commercial farming systems to support efficient sustainable ruminant production systems.

Research Collaborations

The University upon Tyne, UK
Cornell Universiyt, US.
UCLA, US.
Ruminant Production, United Kingdom
Dr. R.A. Leng, Ruminant Nutrition, Australia
Dr. E.R. Orskov, Ruminant Nutrition, United Kingdom
Dr. Joe, D. Caton, Ruminant Nutrition, USA
Dr. Jame, E. Tilton, Physiology, USA
Eric, P. Berg, Meat Science, USA