Kalisha Nirmala Chandra, a student at the Faculty of Animal Science in UGM, achieved a distinguished honor at the national level by being named Best Researcher in the 2024-2025 Indofood Riset Nugraha (IRN) program. Through her research titled “Designing Functional Eggs: Improving Egg Quality and Antioxidant Gene Expression in Laying Hens via Organic Selenium Feed Supplement Innovation”, Kalisha introduced an innovation for developing eggs into functional food: products that are not only highly nutritious but also offer additional health benefits for humans. Furthermore, the development of selenium-based feed was shown to enhance the productivity of laying hens. This research was conducted under the guidance of Dr. Muhsin Al Anas, a lecturer and researcher at the Department of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, Faculty of Animal Science, UGM.
In her study, Kalisha utilized organic selenium, an essential mineral that plays a crucial role in the antioxidant defense system and boasts superior absorption rates in poultry. Selenium works by suppressing the effects of free radicals and oxidative stress: two primary factors that often compromise livestock productivity and product quality. Over the course of the three-month study, Kalisha monitored various parameters, ranging from egg quality, shell color, selenium content, and antibody (IgY) levels to antioxidant gene expression in the liver tissue and reproductive tract (magnum) of the laying hens.
The study results indicate that the addition of organic selenium has a significant positive impact on egg quality. Hens receiving supplemental selenium produced eggs with brighter shell colors and higher levels of selenium and antibodies (IgY) compared to the control group. Supplementation with organic selenium at a rate of 300 g/ton also increased the expression of antioxidant genes, such as GPx1, SOD1, CAT, and Nrf2, in liver tissue, as well as GPx1 and CAT in the magnum tissue. Overall, the addition of organic selenium proved effective in enhancing egg quality and strengthening the antioxidant systems of laying hens.
Kalisha explained that this research represents an initial step toward the development of “functional eggs”: eggs that offer added value for human health.
“This research demonstrates how feed innovation can yield livestock products that are not only superior in terms of productivity but also offer tangible health benefits. This aligns with the research direction of the Faculty of Animal Science in UGM in fostering sustainable food innovation,” she stated on Friday (17/10).
Kalisha’s success in being named the best researcher in the Indofood Riset Nugraha program is not only a source of pride for UGM but also demonstrates that Indonesian students are capable of producing high-standard research with tangible impacts on society and the national food industry. The Indofood Riset Nugraha program is an initiative by PT Indofood Sukses Makmur Tbk that has long served as a platform for university students to develop ideas and innovations in the fields of food, nutrition, and agriculture. Through this program, Indofood is committed to supporting Indonesia’s younger generation in conducting research that bolsters national food security through science and technology.
This achievement is expected to inspire other students to continue innovating and contributing scientific solutions to future food-related challenges. The Faculty of Animal Science in UGM remains committed to driving this change through innovative research, industry collaboration, and the development of highly competitive, sustainability-oriented livestock products. Such research-based innovation also supports the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly the “Zero Hunger” goal, by ensuring the availability of healthy, nutritious, and sustainable food.
Original article: https://fapet.ugm.ac.id/mahasiswi-peternakan-ugm-menjadi-peneliti-terbaik-indofood-riset-nugraha-2024-2025-melalui-inovasi-telur-fungsional/
Translated by: Sarah Suminar