ISSUE FOCUS 32 FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE May 2023 “Feed contamination can occur at any stage of the production process, from the sourcing of raw materials to the storage and transport of finished feed. Overall, microbial loads of indicator organisms such as Enterobacteriaceae and the prevalence of pathogens such as Salmonella can all be utilized to evaluate the microbial quality of feed. Poor microbial quality can impact ingredient suppliers and feed producers, resulting in additional processing, throughput constraints, facility decontamination/maintenance, discounting or disposal of product, and the potential loss of customers.” It’s a universal truth that our food-animal producers depend on high-quality feed to raise healthy, productive livestock. Feed quality is complex but can be viewed through two primary lenses - microbial quality and feed form. Contamination of feed, or poor feed microbial quality, can lead to reduced performance, increased incidence of disease and even increased mortality in livestock. Whereas moisture management challenges can negatively impact both microbial quality as well as feed form. To understand how microbial contamination and moisture management impact feed and food producers, we must examine how microbial loads impact feed safety and how moisture can affect milling efficiency and overall feed quality. HOW DO MICROBIAL LOADS IMPACT FEED SAFETY AND QUALITY? Studies have shown that food-producing animals supplied feed with decreased microbial loads have increased performance. Feed contamination can occur at any stage of the production process, from the sourcing of raw materials to the storage and transport of finished feed. Overall, microbial loads of indicator organisms such as Enterobacteriaceae and the prevalence of pathogens such as Salmonella can all be utilized to evaluate the microbial quality of feed. Poor microbial quality can impact ingredient suppliers and feed producers, resulting in additional processing, throughput constraints, facility decontamination/maintenance, discounting or disposal of product, and the potential loss of customers. Microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi found in feed can cause morbidity and mortality in the animals consuming it, and in some cases, lead to foodborne illnesses in consumers. For example, Salmonella is one of the most significant bacterial IMPROVING FEED QUALITY WHILE PROMOTING FEED SAFETY AND MILLING EFFICIENCY Callie Selby Technical Support Coordinator Anitox
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