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Research Article

Effect of storage conditions on the micrbiological quality of feed

Ewa Kulczyk-Małysa  , Elżbieta Bogusławska-Wąs

Department of Applied Microbiology and Human Nutrition Physiology, Faculty of Food Sciences and Fisheries, West Pomeranian

1. Acta Sci. Pol. Zootechnica, 22(4), 2023, 21‒32
2. DOI: 10.21005/asp.2023.22.4.03

Abstract. The microbiological quality of feed is affected by a range of factors throughout the food chain. The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of feed storage conditions on its microbiological quality. Poultry feeds were sampled in three periods: winter, summer and autumn from four domestic farms. At the same time, air temperature and humidity, as well as indoor microbiological air quality were measured. The transfer of contaminants from the air to feed that was not properly protected was demonstrated. Contamination of feed with fecal bacteria occurred regardless of the animals access to feed stores. The study showed the influence of indoor conditions on air and feed contamination. In winter and autumn, where high air humidity (>51%) was recorded, higher concentrations of total yeast and mold counts were isolated for feed 2 in winter and feed 1 in autumn in the inverted rooms. Only in winter was there a correlation between the physical parameters of the air samples. The effect of temperature on the microbiological quality of feed was determined only during the autumn period.

Keywords: bacteria and mould, fungi, microbiology of poultry feed, animal housing, air quality, feed hygiene