ARTICLE 54 FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE September 2025 plied at 6 kg/MT—significant for both efficacy and cost-effectiveness (Gosling et al., 2021). Research by Dr. Haraldo Toro expanded feed sanitizer effectiveness beyond bacteria, demonstrating avian influenza virus inactivation within feed matrices. Feed sanitizers provide protection extending at least 14 days post-application, addressing the recontamination challenge limiting other strategies. This protection window covers typical mill-to-consumption timeframes, ensuring pathogen-free feed delivery to food-producing animals. IMPLEMENTATION AND SELECTION CRITERIA Continuous feed sanitation throughout the production cycle provides greater protection than partial approaches, as benefits accumulate over time to suppress pathogens more effectively. Early application is especially important, since exposure during initial gut development can establish long-lasting colonization that is difficult to control later. Collaborative research between Anitox and Colorado Quality Research has shown that birds receiving sanitized diets during critical windows may be better able to withstand enteric disease challenges, with lower mortality, reduced lesion scores and improved performance—highlighting the value of sustained, cycle-long interventions. When evaluating feed pathogen control options, producers should consider two fundamental requirements: Efficacy: Different treatments demonstrate varying capabilities against target pathogens. While some reduce general microbial load, specific pathogen elimination requires targeted approaches with documented effectiveness against Salmonella. Sustained Protection: The feed mill and the extensive feed distribution network create ongoing recontamination risks from the point of extrusion in the mill all the way through to the feeder. Interventions providing residual protection offer advantages over those effective only at application point. Feed pathogen management represents a practical component of comprehensive food safety programs. Research demonstrates multiple intervention categories can achieve measurable Salmonella reduction, with varying effectiveness and protection duration. Producers implementing feed pathogen control strategies should evaluate options based on demonstrated efficacy, practical application requirements, and ability to maintain protection throughout the distribution chain. The goal remains straightforward: Ensuring feed quality at the mill translates to feed safety at the feeder. As the industry optimizes production efficiency while maintaining food safety standards, evidence-based feed pathogen management strategies provide valuable tools for achieving both objectives simultaneously. Photo: Freepik
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