Salmonella control is important in food and feed production, as it is a pathogen of significance for animal and human health. As one of the most extensively researched feed-source pathogens it has been clearly evidenced that Salmonella can be present in the raw materials, the finished feed, and even in the equipment used for processing, leading to serious consequences such as product recalls and financial losses.
Global Director of Nutrition and Live Production
Anitox
Feed is the most costly and influential factor in poultry production. Successful poultry production depends largely on the quality of the feed birds receive, which allows them to express their genetic potential. High-quality feed is a crucial aspect of animal health and food safety.
One important aspect of feed quality is microbial load. Feed-source pathogens affecting poultry health and productivity, as well as human food safety, can thrive and multiply in feed and feed ingredients and also compete with the host for nutrients. Biosecurity measures are designed to prevent the introduction and transmission of feed-source pathogens at all levels of the production process. All these measures, including restricted access, vaccination, cleaning and disinfection of facilities, water sanitation, litter management, rodent and pest control are aimed to establish lines of separation between birds and the potential contamination sources outside. Due to the significant volumes and centralized nature of feed that can reach large number of farms in short periods of time, feed pathogen control is a fundamental piece in every biosecurity program. Research has shown that an array of pathogens, such as Salmonella and Clostridia, can colonize feed mills and equipment and spread through feed and feed ingredients, using them as carriers to access trucks, silos, feeder systems, and birds downstream. Feed is systematically and repeatedly disseminated throughout production chains daily, making it one of the most important critical control points for biosecurity programs.
FEED SANITATION IS AN EFFECTIVE STRATEGY FOR SALMONELLA CONTROL
Salmonella control is important in food and feed production, as it is a pathogen of significance for animal and human health. As one of the most extensively researched feed-source pathogens it has been clearly evidenced that Salmonella can be present in the raw materials, the finished feed, and even in the equipment used for processing, leading to serious consequences such as product recalls and financial losses. Over 500 publications have linked Salmonella to animal feeds and feed ingredients. The milling and live production processes can create ideal environments for Salmonella to thrive. Feed milling generates heat and moisture that promote Salmonella growth. Additionally, Salmonella can colonize feed mill machinery, trucks, and other areas associated with feed production, which can lead to contamination of feed. This can result in repeated exposure of farms and flocks to Salmonella through contaminated feed. Studies have shown that Salmonella prevalence is highest at ingredient receiving, decreases after passing through the pellet mill, but increases again before reaching the point of consumption.
A recent literature review has shown that feed accounts for 4.8% of the occurrence of Salmonella in poultry production systems (Wang et al, 2023). This is particularly concerning because feed has a unique ability to introduce pathogens into the gastrointestinal tracts of animals, which then increases the prevalence of the bacteria in feces and litter, ultimately leading to more horizontal transmission within the breeding and grow-out facilities, a concept not broadly explored at this point.
Although most mills have protocols to prevent the introduction of Salmonella to feed production, these protocols can lead to reduced productivity, additional downtime and costs due to decontamination procedures, and damage to reputation and contracts.
Controlling Salmonella in live production is best accomplished by mitigating its entry in the system. Feed sanitization involves using bactericidal compounds to reduce microbial contamination and provide long-term pathogen control. Studies have shown that Termin-8®, a formaldehyde-based feed sanitizer, is effective at reducing Salmonella contamination in feed and preventing recontamination. More recently, a formaldehyde-free feed sanitizer, Finio®, was found to control Salmonella more effectively than organic acid blends.
To safeguard your feed from being contaminated by Salmonella, it is crucial to understand the microbial load at various stages of feed production, including before and after production. While Salmonella is a primary concern pertaining to food safety, evaluating the overall microbial profile can be a better indicator of feed quality and safety. Effective feed pathogen control can help to strengthen biosecurity, protect the entire food chain and improve poultry performance.
CONTROLLING FEED MICROBIAL LOADS SUPPORTS POULTRY PERFORMANCE
The health and performance of poultry are heavily influenced by the health of the gut and the microbiome. Maintaining this balance is crucial to protecting intestinal tissues and preventing disease. Variable microbial loads within feed can challenge the microbiome, leading to a shift in the microbial population and dysbiosis. High microbial loads in feed can cause significant health and performance issues, as goblet cells within the gut proliferate and produce mucus, diverting energy to overcome the challenge. Salmonella, E. coli, and Clostridia are common pathogens found in feed, and associated with high microbial loads.
Controlling microbial loads in feed can help improve performance. For example, Clostridium perfringens is a microorganism that can cause severe health issues when it proliferates abnormally during a microbiome imbalance. Preliminary results from research currently underway demonstrates that reducing microbial loads in feed can support the development of a healthy microflora, reduce the severity of lesions and mortality, and improve weight gain and feed conversion during a Necrotic Enteritis challenge in broilers.
These findings illustrate how decreasing microbial loads and reducing incoming feed-source pathogen prevalence support broiler health and performance. However, additional research is required to understand how feed sanitation directly impacts the microbiome and intestinal health.
Feed sanitizers, such as Termin-8® and Finio®, can reduce feed microbial loads, protect against recontamination, and offer long-term protection. Decreasing microbial loads can help reduce pathogen prevalence in feed, generate improvements in bird health and performance, and provide a cost-effective food safety and poultry performance strategy for producers. Recent research conducted by Avila et al, showed that broiler breeders consuming sanitized feed with low microbial loads had lower mortality during production, less eggshell contamination and produced high quality chicks.
Producing high quality animal feed requires the implementation of feed hygiene programs that effectively minimize microbial loads, reduce the risk of pathogen entry and prevent recontamination. Feed sanitation is a powerful tool that the industry relies on heavily. Numerous studies have demonstrated that the use of a feed sanitizer in both raw ingredients and finished feed results in a significant decrease in overall microbial loads and prevalence of pathogens. Moreover, the benefits of feed sanitation can persist for up to 14 days after application, offering long-lasting protection.
About Dr. Enrique Montiel
Veterinarian, Dr. Enrique Montiel has more than 25 years global poultry and animal health experience. A Master of Science in avian pathology and immunology and a Ph.D. in poultry science, he is a leading authority on the influence of feeding methods on immune responses in poultry. As Global Director of Nutrition and Live Production at Anitox, Dr. Montiel supports global understanding of feed as a fomite for performance-limiting pathogens including Salmonella and viruses, and works closely with the world’s leading producers to prevent feed-source pathogens entering live production.
