ARTICLE FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE September 2025 53 that Bacillus subtilis DSM17299 achieved 58% reduction in Salmonella-positive samples while reducing cecal loads by 3 log units over 42 days. Vilá et al (2009) reported complete elimination in broilers (0% versus 42% in controls) using Bacillus cereus var. toyoi. Postbiotics deliver bioactive metabolites and immunomodulatory factors that enhance intestinal barrier function and stimulate protective immune responses without requiring live organisms. Chaney et al (2022) found Saccharomyces cerevisiae-derived postbiotics reduced cecal prevalence from 12.2% to 3.4% (p = 0.0006) in a trial involving approximately 112,800 birds. Bacteriophages provide highly targeted antimicrobial action through species-specific lysis of Salmonella cells while preserving beneficial microbiota. A study assessing bacteriophage delivery via feed achieved up to 100% reduction in some treatment groups with statistically significant load reductions (Thanki et al 2023). NON-MICROBIAL APPROACHES Organic acid blends can show measurable benefits. Bourassa et al (2018) found formic acid treatment (4 kg/ton over 6 weeks) reduced cecal positivity to 0% compared to 17% in controls, while combination treatments achieved 35% versus 60% positivity rates. Physical modifications to feed can also demonstrate efficacy. Santos et al (2008) reported coarse grain diets resulted in lower cecal Salmonella loads (3.8-3.9 log MPN/g) compared to fine grain diets (4.4 log MPN/g), suggesting feed particle size represents an underutilized control parameter. Treatments—including heat treatment and organic acids— act in feed to provide effective initial pathogen reduction but offer limited protection against recontamination during handling, transport, and storage. Heat treatment exemplifies this limitation. While pelleting at 80-85°C for 20-40 seconds reduces general microbial load, it fails to achieve Salmonella elimination and provides no residual protection. Even extended protocols (6 minutes at 86°C) cannot prevent post-processing contamination from the moment the feed cools post-extrusion and during handling between mill and feeder. Organic acids face similar constraints. Despite bacteriostatic properties and demonstrated efficacy at high inclusion rates, they do not actively protect feed from recontamination occurring during ingredient transport, mill processing, finished feed storage, delivery to farms, and bin-to-feeder transfer. FEED SANITIZERS: ADDRESSING THE PROTECTION GAP Over 40 years of research evidences that feed sanitizers represent the only commercially available solution providing both initial pathogen elimination and sustained recontamination protection. Wales et al (2013) documented that formaldehyde-based feed sanitizers, such as Termin-8®, effectively reduced Salmonella contamination while preventing recontamination throughout extended storage periods. Recent Animal Plant and Health Agency work demonstrated that formaldehyde-free feed sanitizer, Finio®, controlled Salmonella more effectively at 1 kg/MT inclusion rates than organic acid blends apPhoto: Freepik
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