Meat Tenderness is one of the most important factors affecting consumers' assessment of meat quality. Variation in meat tenderness is genetically controlled and varies among breeds, and it is also influenced by environmental factors that can affect its creation during rigor mortis and postmortem. The final postmortem meat tenderization relies on the extent of proteolysis of myofibrillar proteins caused by the endogenous activity of the proteolytic calpain system. This calpain system includes different calcium-dependent cysteine proteases, and an inhibitor, calpastatin. It is widely accepted that in farm animals including chickens, the μ-calpain gene (CAPN1) is a physiological candidate gene for meat tenderness. This study aimed to identify the association of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers in the CAPN1 gene with the tenderness of chicken breast meat from two Malaysian native and commercial broiler breed crosses. Ten, five months old native chickens and ten, 42 days commercial broilers were collected from the local market and breast muscles were removed two hours after slaughter, packed separately in plastic bags and kept at -20ºC for 24 h. The tenderness phenotype for all chickens’ breast meats was determined by Warner-Bratzler Shear Force (WBSF). Thawing and cooking losses were also measured in the same breast samples before using in WBSF determination. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to identify the previously reported C7198A and G9950A SNPs in the CAPN1 gene and assess their associations with meat tenderness in the two breeds. The broiler breast meat showed lower shear force values and lower thawing loss rates than the native chickens (p<0.05), whereas there were similar in the rates of cooking loss. The study confirms some previous results that the markers CAPN1 C7198A and G9950A were not significantly associated with the variation in meat tenderness in chickens. Therefore, further study is needed to confirm the functional molecular mechanism of these SNPs and evaluate their associations in different chicken populations.

Mahkota Dewa (Phaleria macrocarpa) also known as God's Crown has been historically used as an indispensable alternative herbal medicine. Microencapsulation is a process whereby tiny particles or droplets are engulfed or enclosed in a coating matrix to produce small capsules. Generally, without microencapsulation, powders are fragile materials that could easily interfere with other components that are difficult to dissolve in water, lose their beneficial properties and decrease shelf life. It is hoped that the microencapsulation would increase the consistency of the powder during storage and maintain its beneficial properties. The goal of this research is to investigate the physicochemical and antimicrobial activity of Mahkota Dewa leaves encapsulated in different concentrations of gum Arabic (GA) and to determine the form of antioxidant and their role and properties. Mahkota Dewa leaves powders were microencapsulated in 0%, 2%, 4%, 6%, 8% and 10% gum Arabic using an ultrasonic spray dryer at 90οC. The microencapsulated Mahkota Dewa leaves (MMDL) samples were subjected to physicochemical and antimicrobial activity. The results showed that the 6% GA MMDL exhibited the highest yield (3.91%) while 0% GA was the lowest yield (1.64%). The highest total phenolic and flavonoid content was exhibited by 2% GA. The highest DPPH inhibition was depicted in 0% GA which indicates the highest antioxidant activity (54.9±0.01%) and is significantly (p<0.05) different from other samples. The highest inhibition was exhibited in 0% GA in the TBA method and FTC analysis. The encapsulated powders were identified to have weak antimicrobial activity against Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes. The powders produced have an irregularly spherical structure and smooth surface with some dented spots on the surface. The different concentration of gum Arabic resulted in different antioxidant activity, flavonoid content and antimicrobial activity of MMDL.

Halal concepts are now being put into practice, across multilayers of trade and industrial services worldwide. Syariah compliant certifications championed by NGOs, independent bodies and government agencies, allow acceptance of Halal certifications and recognition of products, as fit and Halal for Muslim consumption, for domestic uses, and exports. Today’s global market are now trending towards capturing the lucrative Halal trade, profitably, with common household items such as Halal meat, food and beverages, becoming more accessible globally. Other range of services, such as Halal hospitality, tourism, and Syariah compliant banking systems; and tangible non-food products, like cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and toiletries, are expanding to cater for the Muslims’ worldwide needs across the continents. This article focuses on the training that had been conducted by the Institute of Halal and Research Management (IHRAM) in the year of 2014 and 2015 on the Halal meat business international industry players, focusing on Pakistani meat produces, traders, importers and government authorities. Does the training provide opportunities in allowing negotiable terms and conditions, thus aligning strategies that will mutually benefit developing markets of halal meat in Malaysia, and Pakistan? Can the training become a platform for smart partnerships and mutual recognition of bilateral trade negotiations, in halal meat production within differing nations? Can training negotiate linkages with halal meat importers from other countries and work actively in increasing the export level of Halal meat into Malaysia? This article, therefore, explain the complexity of negotiation outcomes and the challenges faced by the Halal meat traders of different countries to agree on common areas and establish sustainable relationships of future trade and bilateral communications to build the Halal industry linkages internationally.