ISSUE FOCUS FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE June 2025 31 ished feeds. Once contaminated, these feeds can spread widely throughout multiple barns or housing facilities across an operation, potentially affecting many animals. Salmonella in feed has been extensively studied over the past 30 years. According to Davies et al. (2004), contaminated feed is a recognized source of Salmonella infection in pork production. Foley et al. (2008) identified the main serovars affecting swine and poultry production systems, including S. typhimurium, S. enteritidis, S. heidelberg, S. montevideo, S. saintpaul, and S. I 4,[5],12:i:-. What makes bacterial pathogens particularly challenging is their ability to adapt and mutate to survive in different conditions. Without thoroughly cleaning on a frequent basis, they can persist in feed manufacturing facilities and transportation environments, requiring comprehensive security measures throughout the supply chain. More recent research shows that viruses can survive in animal feed and cause infections in challenge studies, though our understanding of this process is not as extensive as our knowledge of bacterial transmission via feed. This highlights why strong biosecurity measures are crucial for disease prevention. THE CRITICAL IMPORTANCE OF FEED SANITATION Feed sanitation has emerged as a cornerstone of comprehensive biosecurity programs across the animal production industry. Effective feed sanitation is no longer optional—it's a fundamental requirement for protecting animal health, ensuring food safety, and maintaining production efficiency. Feed sanitation encompasses multiple intervention strategies designed to eliminate or significantly reduce pathogen loads in animal feed before consumption. These strategies are particularly important given the increasing complexity of global feed supply chains and the recognition that traditional processing methods such as pelleting would not provide prolonged pathogen control. What many producers don't realize is that even with thermal processing like pelleting, bacterial recontamination can occur right after the pellet leaves the pellet mill during cooling and storage phases. A comprehensive sanitation approach needs to address the entire production cycle, not just individual processing steps. Key components of effective feed sanitation programs include: • Preprocessing treatments for incoming raw materials to reduce initial pathogen loads • Chemical interventions during feed manufacturing that provide residual protection against recontamination • Environmental sanitation of production facilities, storage areas, and transportation equipment • Regular monitoring and verification to ensure sanitation protocols maintain effectiveness over time Research has demonstrated that properly implemented feed sanitation programs can reduce microbial loads in finished feed products, providing substantial protection against common bacterial threats, such as Salmonella. Beyond pathogen control, sanitation measures often deliver secondary benefits, including enhancements in feed quality through reduced microbial loads and animal performance. ShutterStock | 695410951
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