Identification of animal derivatives contained in commercial chicken feeds using multiplex-PCR

Availability of commercial feeds for chicken force farmers to use them due to the practicality than hand formulated feed. Cannibalism and spread of infectious disease may be occurred by feed without knowing its contents. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine species contained in commercial feeds for chicken using multiplex-PCR mitochondrial DNA Cytochrome b gene. This study used five commercial feeds for chicken produced by five different companies as samples. They were namely PK1, PK2, PK3, PK4, and PK5. Hand-made meat meals from goat, chicken, bovine, and pig were used as positive controls. Genomic DNA was extracted from those samples, and they were used as DNA template for PCR. The PCR products were then visualized using 2% agarose gels under the UV light. The results showed that some samples were positively containing animal derivatives. The PK1 sample contained chicken, bovine, and pig which are respectively indicated by 227, 274, and 398 bp of DNA bands. Moreover, PK4 and PK5 samples contained bovine species. On the other hand, PK2 and PK3 samples did not contain animal derivatives, especially four species used as markers in this study. It can be concluded that animal derivatives have been detected in three commercial feeds for chicken using the multiplex-PCR technique. This study recommended avoiding a commercial feed for chicken since it contained chicken derivatives to prevent cannibalism.