ISSUE FOCUS 50 FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE October 2023 Effective feed pathogen control programs address specific risks and consider factors such as the age and gut integrity of birds and the risk associated with ingredients in the feed. Feed sanitation effectively reduces feed microbial loads and pathogen prevalence. FEED MICROBIAL QUALITY: UNDERSTANDING THE RISKS AND CHALLENGES 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. Indicator organisms such as enterobacteria and Salmonella prevalence are typically utilized to evaluate feed's microbial quality. One of the most researched feed-source pathogens is Salmonella as it is a significant pathogen for both animal and human health. It is well documented that this pathogen can be present in raw materials, finished feed, and processing equipment, leading to severe consequences such as product recalls and financial losses. Contemporary Salmonella isolates have gained the ability to thrive under feed mill conditions and live production processes can create perfect conditions for pathogen survival. Feed milling generates heat and moisture that promotes microbial growth, and facilitates contamination of feed mill machinery, trucks, and other areas associated with feed production, leading to feed contamination and repeated exposure of farms and flocks to feed-source pathogens. IMPLEMENTING FEED SANITATION TO OPTIMIZE ANIMAL HEALTH AND PERFORMANCE Producing high-quality animal feed relies on the Ingredient Enterobacteriaceae Staphylococcus Percent Contaminated (%) Streptococcus Sorghum Soybean Meal Corn Wheat Cottonseed Palm Kernel Meat Meal Poultry Meal Feather Meal Fish Meal 77 69 73 100 100 11 57 64 62 43 79 88 76 100 0 44 92 41 92 88 88 84 68 100 0 100 85 59 85 65 Table 1. Anitox Feed Ingredient Survey (Source: Source: Richardson et al., 2000)
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