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. Overall, microbial loads of indicator organisms such as Enterobacteriaceae and the prevalence of pathogens such as Salmonella can all be utilized to evaluate the microbial quality of feed. Poor microbial quality can impact ingredient suppliers and feed producers, resulting in additional processing, throughput constraints, facility decontamination/maintenance, discounting or disposal of product, and the potential loss of customers.
Technical Support Coordinator
Anitox
It’s a universal truth that our food-animal producers depend on high-quality feed to raise healthy, productive livestock. Feed quality is complex but can be viewed through two primary lenses – microbial quality and feed form. Contamination of feed, or poor feed microbial quality, can lead to reduced performance, increased incidence of disease and even increased mortality in livestock. Whereas moisture management challenges can negatively impact both microbial quality as well as feed form.
To understand how microbial contamination and moisture management impact feed and food producers, we must examine how microbial loads impact feed safety and how moisture can affect milling efficiency and overall feed quality.
HOW DO MICROBIAL LOADS IMPACT FEED SAFETY AND QUALITY?
Studies have shown that food-producing animals supplied feed with decreased microbial loads have increased performance. 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. Overall, microbial loads of indicator organisms such as Enterobacteriaceae and the prevalence of pathogens such as Salmonella can all be utilized to evaluate the microbial quality of feed. Poor microbial quality can impact ingredient suppliers and feed producers, resulting in additional processing, throughput constraints, facility decontamination/maintenance, discounting or disposal of product, and the potential loss of customers.
Microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi found in feed can cause morbidity and mortality in the animals consuming it, and in some cases, lead to foodborne illnesses in consumers. For example, Salmonella is one of the most significant bacterial challenges facing food and feed producers today, as it can cause illness in both animals and humans. Salmonella can be found in raw ingredients, finished feeds, and as legacy bacteria in mills and subsequent contamination can have serious consequences, leading to product recalls and economic losses. Research has found that feed contributes to 4.8% of the Salmonella prevalence within poultry production systems (Wang et al, 2023). This is significant because feed has the unique ability to introduce pathogens into animal gastrointestinal tracts, which in turn leads to higher prevalence in feces and litter, increasing horizontal transmission within the breeding and grow out facilities, a phenomenon that has eluded most published works to date.
on Eggshell Microbial Load *Indicates significant difference between treatments (p<0.05) Source: Avila et al, 2023
However, work has been done to evaluate the impact of feed sanitation and reduced feed microbial loads on broiler breeder hen performance. Avila et al found that breeder hens fed sanitized feed produced cleaner eggs with reduced eggshell microbial loads (2023).
In today’s world, we, as an industry and consumers, have more visibility than ever on the safety and quality of food. Because of this, ingredient sourcing and microbial risk management play a crucial role in animal feed and food production.
Effective feed hygiene programs that reduce microbial loads and provide continued protection against microbial recontamination are essential to producing high-quality animal feed. Feed sanitation remains to be one of the industry’s most impactful tools. Studies have repeatedly shown that utilizing a feed sanitizer in raw ingredients and finished feed reduces overall microbial loads and pathogen prevalence while providing continued protection for at least 14 days post-application. Within feed production systems, feed sanitizers can also be used as a flushing agent that aids in keeping facilities free of legacy bacteria.
MOISTURE MANAGEMENT DRIVES MILLING EFFICIENCY AND FEED QUALITY
Proper moisture management is also essential in animal feed production. Moisture levels in feed must be carefully controlled to prevent mold and bacterial growth, which can lead to further contamination (rancidity), as well as increased chance of disease in food-producing animals. Commercial mills and integrators face poor feed form and moisture management challenges leading to reduced efficiency and productivity within the mills, feed wastage, nutrient segregation and uniformity challenges in the field.
Efficient feed milling means producing high-quality feed at the lowest possible cost. This can be achieved through measures that optimize the use of resources, improve production processes, and reduce waste. Balancing production efficiency and nutritional value requires a mechanism that improves moisture penetration and facilitates more effective meal conditioning. When we optimize moisture within feed formulations, we support feed form goals and microbial quality.
Moisture that penetrates and is retained within feed particles during conditioning and pressing acts as a heat conduit, allowing for uniform heat transfer throughout the meal. Even distribution of heat through the feed due to better moisture penetration and retention improves starch gelatinization and limits available water to microbial populations. This results in a longer shelf-life, increased pellet quality and improved nutrient digestibility.
Commercial trials performed with Anitox Maxi-Mil by the International Research Institute of Feed Technology have shown that 1% Maxi-Mil inclusion improves conditioning rates, pellet stability/PDI, and moisture retention during cooling while reducing friction-related temperature rises in the pellet press and energy demand.
Research has shown that feed form has a tremendous impact on animal performance. Glover et al. found that increasing pellets in the feed pan from 50% to 70% resulted in a 3-point decrease in feed conversion (2015). Similar results have been observed in turkeys; improved feed form positively impacts breast meat yield, body weight and feed conversion rates (Kenny, 2022). In swine, published research suggests that feed efficiency in pigs improves as the percentage of fines decreases (Nemechek et al, 2013).
Feed quality impacts both feed and food producers in animal agriculture. Ensuring that feed quality is supported through strategies managing feed safety and form supports feed producer’s and end user’s productivity and performance goals. Feed producers can extract maximum value from costly raw materials, and food producers get the most out of their significant feed investments.
About Callie Selby
Callie Selby completed her Bachelor’s and Master’s in Poultry Science at the University of Arkansas where she focused on hatchery contamination models and their impacts on broiler performance. While completing her MS, she worked as a Research Technician in the University of Arkansas Poultry Health Lab, studying gut health and performance in broilers. As part of the Anitox Technical Team, Callie aids producers in understanding feed as a fomite and works alongside leading producers to implement effective feed-source pathogen mitigation strategies.
