Research Note: Evaluation of a precision-fed rooster assay for determination of phytic acid disappearance in feedstuffs

The objective of this study was to evaluate a precision-fed rooster assay that is suitable for determination of phytic acid (myo-inositol 1,2,3,4,5,6-hexakis; InsP₆) disappearance in plant-based feed ingredients. A 48-h precision-fed rooster assay was used to measure InsP₆ disappearance using conventional White Leghorn roosters. A minimum of 4 individually-caged roosters per treatment were fasted for 26 h prior to crop intubation with 15 to 30 g of sample, and excreta were quantitatively collected for 48 h. Soybean meal, soybean hulls, canola meal, conventional distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS), palm kernel meal (PKM), and wheat bran were evaluated in Experiment 1, whereas wheat middlings (WM) and rice bran (RB) were evaluated without and with 1,000 and 1,800 U/kg phytase in Experiment 2. Data from Experiment 1 were subjected to a one-way ANOVA for a completely randomized design, while data from Experiment 2 were subjected to two-way ANOVA for a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement of treatments. In Experiment 1, InsP₆ disappearance ranged from 3 to 95% among all ingredients. The InsP₆ disappearance for conventional DDGS (95%) was the highest (P < 0.05), wheat bran and soybean hulls were intermediate (47-48%), PKM was low (24%), and soybean meal and canola meal were very low (3-5%). In Experiment 2, there was a significant ingredient × phytase interaction (P < 0.05). Phytase inclusion at both 1,000 and 1,800 U/kg resulted in a significant improvement (P < 0.05) in InsP₆ disappearance for RB; however, only the addition of 1,800 U/kg resulted in an increase in InsP₆ disappearance for WM. The addition of 1,800 U/kg phytase increased the InsP₆ disappearance from 58 to 74% for WM and from 26 to 53% for RB. These results suggest the precision-fed rooster assay can be used to evaluate phytic acid disappearance in plant-based feed ingredients and the assay was able to detect a significant effect of 1,800 U/kg of exogenous phytase on phytic acid disappearance for WM and RB.

Rethinking the uncertainty of African swine fever virus contamination in feed ingredients and risk of introduction into the United States

Economically relevant pathogens, such as African swine fever virus (ASFV), have been shown to survive when experimentally inoculated in some feed ingredients under the environmental conditions in transoceanic transport models. However, these models did not characterize the likelihood of virus survival under various time and temperature processes that feed ingredients undergo before they are added to swine diets. Here, we developed a quantitative risk assessment model to estimate the probability that one or more corn or soybean meal ocean vessels (25,000 tonnes) contaminated with ASFV would be imported into the United States annually. This final probability estimate was conditionally based on five likelihoods: the probability of initial ASFV contamination (p0), ASFV inactivation during processing (p1) and transport (p2), recontamination (pR), and ASFV inactivation while awaiting customs clearance at United States entry (p3). The probability of ASFV inactivation was modelled using corn and soybean (extruded or solvent extracted) processing conditions (times and temperatures), D-values (time to reduce 90% or 1-log) estimated from studies of ASFV thermal inactivation in pork serum (p1), and survival in feed ingredients during transoceanic transport (p2 and p3). 'What-if' scenarios using deterministic values for p0 and pR (1%, 10%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100%) were used to explore their impact on risk. The model estimated complete inactivation of ASFV after extrusion or solvent extraction processes regardless of the initial ASFV contamination probability assumed. The value of recontamination (ranging from 1% to 75%) was highly influential on the risk of one ASFV-contaminated soybean meal vessel entering the United States. Median risk estimates ranged from 0.064% [0.006%-0.60%; 95% probability interval (PI)], assuming a pR of 1.0%, up to 4.67% (0.45%-36.50% 95% PI) assuming a pR of 75.0%. This means that at least one vessel with ASFV-contaminated soybean meal would be imported once every 1563-21 years, respectively. When all raw corn was assumed to be contaminated (p0 = 100%), and no recontamination was assumed to occur (pR = 0%), the median probability of one vessel with ASFV-contaminated corn entering the United States was 2.02% (0.28%-9.43% 95% PI) or once every 50 years. Values of recontamination between 1% and 75% did not substantially change the risk of corn. Days of transport, virus survival during transport (D-value), and number of vessels shipped were the parameters most influential for increased likelihood of a vessel with ASFV-contaminated soybean meal or corn entering the United States. The model helped to identify knowledge gaps that are most influential on output values and serves as a framework that could be updated and parameterized as new scientific information becomes available. We propose that the quantitative risk assessment model developed in this study can be used as a framework for estimating the risk of ASFV entry into the United States and other ASFV-free countries through other types of imported feed ingredients that may potentially become contaminated. Ultimately, this model can be used to develop risk mitigation strategies and critical control points for inactivating ASFV during feed ingredient processing, storage, and transport, and contribute to the design and implementation of biosecurity measures to prevent the introduction of ASFV into the United States and other ASFV-free countries.

Can we effectively manage parasites, prions, and pathogens in the global feed industry to achieve One Health?

Prions and certain endoparasites, bacteria, and viruses are internationally recognized as types of disease-causing biological agents that can be transmitted from contaminated feed to animals. Historically, foodborne biological hazards such as prions (transmissible spongiform encephalopathy), endoparasites (Trichinella spiralis, Toxoplasma gondii), and pathogenic bacteria (Salmonella spp., Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli O157, Clostridium spp., and Campylobacter spp.) were major food safety concerns from feeding uncooked or improperly heated animal-derived food waste and by-products. However, implementation of validated thermal processing conditions along with verifiable quality control procedures has been effective in enabling safe use of these feed materials in animal diets. More recently, the occurrence of global Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus and African Swine Fever Virus epidemics, dependence on international feed ingredient supply chains, and the discovery that these viruses can survive in some feed ingredient matrices under environmental conditions of trans-oceanic shipments has created an urgent need to develop and implement rigorous biosecurity protocols that prevent and control animal viruses in feed ingredients. Implementation of verifiable risk-based preventive controls, traceability systems from origin to destination, and effective mitigation procedures is essential to minimize these food security, safety, and sustainability threats. Creating a new biosafety and biosecurity framework will enable convergence of the diverging One Health components involving low environmental impact and functional feed ingredients that are perceived as having elevated biosafety risks when used in animal feeds.

Microalgae as feed ingredients: recent developments on their role in immunomodulation and gut microbiota of aquaculture species

Microalgae are rapidly evolving alternative ingredients in food and feed. Desirable nutritional and functional qualities make them high potential sources of feed ingredients. Certain microalgae species are known to accumulate large amounts of protein, containing all essential amino acids while some species contain essential fatty acids and bioactive compounds hence offering several possible health benefits. However, successful inclusion of microalgae-based products in feed requires a clear understanding of physiological responses and microbiota of animals receiving microalgae diets. In this review, key microalgae-based feed ingredients and their effect on gut microbiome and immunomodulatory responses of microalgae fed animals, with a focus on aquatic species will be discussed.

136 Mycotoxin Contamination in United States Corn and Corn DDGS from 2019 and 2020 Harvest

Mycotoxins are harmful secondary fungal metabolites central to food and feed safety management. These toxins are detrimental to animal health and even at low levels can compromise performance. Focus on clinical signs like decreased feed intake and vomiting overlook significant impacts of mycotoxicosis, including increased disease incidence and severity, immune dysfunction, inflammation, and modulation of the gastrointestinal environment. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of harvest year on five major mycotoxin groups: aflatoxins (Afla), type A trichothecenes (A-Trich), type B trichothecenes (B-Trich), fumonisins (FUM), and zearalenone (ZEN) in corn and corn DDGS samples. For each mycotoxin group within ingredient, 2019 harvest (329 corn and 20 corn DDGS) were compared with 2020 harvest (27 corn and 21 corn DDGS). Data were analyzed using GLIMMIX procedure of SAS with harvest year as fixed effect and sample as the experimental unit. Average B-Trich and FUM contamination levels in corn are significantly (P < 0.05) affected by harvest year. However, B-Trich levels remained consistent, whereas FUM decreased (P < 0.05) from 2019 to 2020. Contamination levels in corn for Afla, A-Trich, and ZEN have remained consistent (P > 0.05) from 2019 to 2020. In corn DDGS, B-Trich contamination level was decreased (P < 0.05) from 2019 to 2020, whereas FUM and ZEN contamination levels remained similar (P > 0.05). The 2020 crop risk profile is likely to change as the sample pool expands. A combination of hot weather, storm events, and drought during the 2020 growing season resulted in crop stress and damage, ultimately leading to grain quality and mycotoxin contamination concerns. Due to the continued risk of mycotoxin co-occurrence, expanding mitigation strategies beyond adsorption by mycotoxin deactivation with biotransformation and additional support of immune and liver function is essential.

The effects of high-oleic peanuts as an alternate feed ingredient on performance, ileal digestibility, apparent metabolizable energy, and histology of the small intestine in laying hens

We aimed to determine the effects of feeding a high-oleic peanut (HOPN) diet to egg-producing laying hens on egg quality, digestibility, and feed conversion. Three isonitrogenous and isocaloric dietary treatments were formulated with 1) Control diet (CON)-a corn-soybean meal conventional diet with 7.8 % added poultry fat, 2) HOPN diet-dietary inclusion of ~20% coarse-ground whole HOPN, and 3) oleic acid (CON-OA) diet-a control diet supplemented with 2.6% oleic fatty acid oil. Ninety-nine 57-wk-old brown Leghorn laying hens were randomly assigned to 33 animals per treatment. Animals were housed individually for 8 wk. Body and feed weights were recorded weekly and feed conversation ratio was calculated. Bi-weekly, shell eggs were analyzed for quality (yolk color, albumen height, and Haugh unit [HU]). Jejunum samples were collected at week 8 for histomorphometric analysis. Analysis of variance was performed on all variables using a general linear mixed model. Laying hens fed the CON-OA diet produced greater number of eggs relative to those fed the HOPN and control diets (P < 0.05). The roche yolk color value was higher (P < 0.001) in eggs from hens fed the HOPN diet. There were no differences in laying hen performance, eggshell color, eggshell strength, eggshell elasticity and egg albumen height, or egg HU, ileal fat digestibility, or villi surface among treatment groups. However, the apparent metabolizable energy (P < 0.01) and ileal protein digestibility (P = 0.02) were greater in laying hens fed the HOPN diet relative to the CON diet. This study suggests that whole unblanched high-oleic peanuts may be an acceptable alternative feed ingredient for laying hens.

Risk and Mitigation of African Swine Fever Virus in Feed

Simple Summary

African swine fever is the most significant disease threat to swine globally, and recent introductions into previously negative countries has heightened the risk for disease spread. Without an effective vaccine or treatment, the primary objective of negative countries is to prevent African swine fever virus infection in pigs. Significant quantities of feed ingredients used for swine diets are traded worldwide and may be imported from countries with African swine fever. If feed ingredients are contaminated with the virus, they can serve as potential routes for the introduction and transmission of African swine fever virus. This review provides information on the risk of African swine fever virus in feed and the mitigation strategies that may help protect the global swine population from introduction and spread through feed.

Abstract

Since the 2013 introduction of porcine epidemic diarrhea virus into the United States (U.S.), feed and feed ingredients have been recognized as potential routes for the introduction and transmission of foreign animal diseases of swine. Feed ingredients for swine diets are commodities traded worldwide, and the U.S. imports thousands of metric tons of feed ingredients each year from countries with circulating foreign animal diseases. African swine fever (ASF) is the most significant foreign animal disease threat to U.S. swine production, and the recent introduction of ASF into historically negative countries has heightened the risk for further spread. Laboratory investigations have characterized the stability of the ASF virus (ASFV) in feed ingredients subjected to transoceanic shipment conditions, ASFV transmissibility through the natural consumption of plant-based feed, and the mitigation potential of certain feed additives to inactivate ASFV in feed. This review describes the current knowledge of feed as a risk for swine viruses and the opportunities for mitigating the risk to protect U.S. pork production and the global swine population from ASF and other foreign animal diseases.

ASAS-NANP symposium: digestion kinetics in pigs: the next step in feed evaluation and a ready-to-use modeling exercise

Growing importance of upcycling agricultural by-products, food waste, and food processing by-products through livestock production strongly increased the variation in the nutritional quality of feed ingredients. Traditionally, feed ingredients are evaluated based on their measured extent of digestion. Awareness increases that in addition to the extent, the kinetics of digestion affects the metabolic fate of nutrients after absorption. Together with a growing body of evidence of complex interactions occurring within the lumen of the digestive tract, this urges the need of developing new approaches for feed evaluation. In a recently developed approach, we propose combining in vitro and in silico methods for feed ingredient evaluation. First steps in the development of such a systems were made by (1) evaluating in vitro the digestion potential of feed ingredients, regarding this as true ingredient properties and (2) predicting in silico the digestive processes like digesta transit, nutrient hydrolysis and absorption using dynamic, mechanistic modeling. This approach allows to evaluate to what extent the digestion potential of each ingredient is exploited in the digestive tract. Future efforts should focus on modeling digesta physicochemical properties and transit, applying in vitro digestion kinetic data of feed ingredients in mechanistic models, and generating reliable in vivo data on nutrient absorption kinetics across feed ingredients. The dynamic modeling approach is illustrated by a description of a modeling exercise that can be used for teaching purposes in digestive physiology or animal nutrition courses. A complete set of equations is provided as an on-line supplement, and can be built in modeling software that is freely available. Alternatively, the model can be constructed using any modeling software that enables the use of numerical integration methods.

Quantification of soya-based feed ingredient entry from ASFV-positive countries to the United States by ocean freight shipping and associated seaports

African swine fever virus (ASFV) can survive in soya‐based products for 30 days with T ½ ranging from 9.6 to 12.9 days in soya bean meals and soya oil cake. As the United States imports soya‐based products from several ASFV‐positive countries, knowledge of the type and quantity of these specific imports, and their ports of entry (POE), is necessary information to manage risk. Using the data from the International Trade Commission Harmonized Tariff Schedule website in conjunction with pivot tables, we analysed imports across air, land and sea POE of soya‐based products from 43 ASFV‐positive countries to the United States during 2018 and 2019. In 2018, 104,366 metric tons (MT) of soya‐based products, specifically conventional and organic soya bean meal, soya beans, soya oil cake and soya oil were imported from these countries into the United States via seaports only. The two largest suppliers were China (52.7%, 55,034 MT) and the Ukraine (42.9%, 44,775 MT). In 2019, 73,331 MT entered the United States and 54.7% (40,143 MT) came from the Ukraine and 8.4% (6,182 MT) from China. Regarding POE, 80.9%–83.2% of soya‐based imports from China entered the United States at the seaports of San Francisco, CA, and Seattle, WA, while 89.4%–100% entered from the Ukraine via the seaports of New Orleans, LA, and Charlotte, NC. Analysis of five‐year trends (2015–2019) of the volume of soya imports from China indicated reduction over time (with a noticeably sharp decrease between 2018 and 2019), and seaport utilization was consistent. In contrast, volume remained high for Ukrainian soya imports, and seaport utilization was inconsistent. Overall, this exercise introduced a new approach to collect objective data on an important risk factor, providing researchers, government officials and industry stakeholders a means to objectively identify and quantify potential channels of foreign animal disease entry into the United States.

The effects of high-oleic peanuts as an alternative feed ingredient on broiler performance, ileal digestibility, apparent metabolizable energy, and histology of the intestine

Locally grown feed ingredients of high energy and protein content, such as peanuts, maybe economically feasible alternatives to corn and soybean meal in broiler diets. Even though normal-oleic peanuts have been demonstrated to be a viable feed ingredient for poultry, few studies to date have examined the use of high-oleic peanuts (HO PN) as an alternative feed ingredient for broiler chickens. Thus, we aimed to determine the effect of feeding HO PN on broiler performance, nutrient digestibility, and intestinal morphology. Three isocaloric, isonitrogenous experimental diets were formulated with 1) dietary inclusion of ~10% coarse-ground whole HO PN; 2) a corn-soybean meal control diet with 5.5% added poultry fat; and 3) a control diet supplemented with 5.5% oleic fatty acid oil. Three-hundred Ross 708 broilers were randomly placed in 10 replicate pens per treatment with 10 chicks per pen and raised until 42 d. Body weights (BW) and feed intake were determined weekly, and feed conversion ratio (FCR) was calculated. Jejunum samples were collected at 42 d for histomorphometric analysis. Analysis of variance was performed on all variables using a general linear mixed model in JMP Pro14. Broilers in the HO PN group had lower (P < 0.05) BW and higher FCR than other treatment groups at weeks 2 and 6. There were no significant differences in the jejunum villi surface area between the treatment groups. However, broilers fed the HO PN diet had greater (P = 0.019) apparent metabolizable energy relative to the other treatment groups, suggesting improved nutrient uptake of dietary fats and/or carbohydrates in the HO PN treatment group. However, additional studies are warranted to further define the nutritional value of HO PN as an alternative poultry feed ingredient.

Assessment of aflatoxin in milk and feed samples and impact of seasonal variations in the Punjab, Pakistan

The present study was designed to assess the incidence of aflatoxin contamination in animal feed and raw milk samples (total 240 each) collected from dairy farms during the complete year of 2015. These samples were collected through a cluster random sampling technique by dividing the province of Punjab, Pakistan into five clusters (north, south, east, west and central). Factors (environmental & physical) affecting aflatoxin contamination in milk and animal feed at farms were also studied. The AFM1 levels in raw milk & AFB1 levels in feed samples were analyzed by using the ELISA technique. Results demonstrated that overall about 53% raw milk samples from dairy farms were contaminated beyond the US MRL (0.50 µg/L) for AFM1 with than average level of 0.59 µg/L, while the 95% farm feed samples were exceeding the FDA MRL (20 µg/kg) of AFB1 with average level of 43 µg/kg. During winter season, the concentration of AFM1 was higher in all clusters with avg 0.68 µg/L, while the AFB1 contamination was highest in the spring season with avg 54 µg/kg. Market feed prices had negative correlation with AFB1 contamilevels, which were further supported by the positive correlation between quantity of feed at farms with AFM1 and AFB1 contamination. Results exhibited significantly positive impact of environmental factors on milk and feed aflatoxin contamination levels, whereas temperature showed an inverse relationship with AFM1 and AFB1 levels. The study recommends need of synergistic extension work to support dairy farms and highlight the contamination levels for regulatory bodies to introduce strategic policies for control measures.

Additivity of Ileal Amino Acid Digestibility in Diets Containing Corn, Soybean Meal, and Corn Distillers Dried Grains with Solubles for Male Broilers

The aim was to test additivity of apparent ileal digestibility (AID) and standardized ileal digestibility (SID) of amino acids (AAs) in mixed diets for Ross 308 broiler chickens. Two hundred and eighty-eight, 20-d-old male broiler chickens were assigned to one of six diets, with six birds per cage using a randomized complete block design. The diets consisted of a nitrogen-free diet, three diets containing corn, soybean meal (SBM), and corn distillers dried grains with solubles (CDDGS) as the sole source of nitrogen, respectively, and two mixed diets containing corn, SBM or CDDGS. Chromic oxide was added to the diets as an indigestible index. On day 24, birds were euthanized for ileal digesta collection. Relative proportion of the basal endogenous loss of AAs to total ileal outflow of AAs in corn was greater (p < 0.05) than that of SBM and CDDGS. For the corn-SBM and corn-SBM-CDDGS mixed diets, the AID of AAs differed (p < 0.05) from the predicted values. No difference was observed between the measured and predicted SID of AA. In conclusion, the SID of AAs is more additive in mixed diets containing corn, SBM, or CDDGS compared to AID values.

The Canadian 2014 porcine epidemic diarrhoea virus outbreak: Important risk factors that were not considered in the epidemiological investigation could change the conclusions

The introduction and spread of porcine epidemic diarrhoea virus (PEDV) in North America resulted in significant death loss in the swine industry. As the industry learned how to manage this disease, many new risks were identified, including the potential for feed and feed ingredients to become contaminated and spread PEDV. In addition, biosecurity practices were reevaluated and strengthened throughout the industry. At the time of the outbreak epidemiologists did not understand, as well as they are understood today, all the risk factors that contribute to the spread of PEDV. As a result, the epidemiological investigations into the 2014 PEDV outbreak in eastern Canada may not have investigated all risk factors as thoroughly as they would be investigated today. In retrospect, many of the Bradford Hill criteria used to determine causation were not fulfilled. This review identifies risk factors that were not included in the 2014 epidemiology. If these risk factors were included in the epidemiology, the conclusions and determination of causation may have been different.

Meat quality and sensory attributes of meat produced from broiler chickens fed a high oleic peanut diet

Previous studies have identified peanut meal prepared from normal-oleic peanuts as a suitable and economical ingredient for broiler feed. However, to date, no studies have examined the use of new, high-oleic peanut (HO-PN) cultivars as a feed ingredient for poultry. This project aimed to determine the effect of HO-PNs as a feed ingredient for broiler chickens on the quality and sensory attributes of the meat produced. To test 3 experimental diets, male broiler chicks were randomly placed, at hatch, in raised-wire cages, in 10 replicate pens per treatment with 10 chicks per cage. For 6 wk, chicks were fed, ad libitum, one of the three isocaloric, isonitrogenous diets: (1) a conventional soybean meal plus corn control diet, (2) 10 to 12% HO-PN + corn diet, or (3) a control corn diet spiked with ≈6.0% oleic fatty acid oil (OA). At 42 D, 3 broilers per pen (30 per treatment) were processed to determine meat quality and for consumer evaluation. Carcass weights and breast yields were reduced in broilers fed HO-PN, while leg carcass yields were greater in broilers fed HO-PN in comparison to the other groups. Chicken breast from broilers fed HO-PN had reduced meat-pH, reduced L* color values, and increased cooked loss compared to other treatments. Nevertheless, a group of 100-consumer panelists scored all 3-treatment groups similar in terms of sensory attributes for cooked chicken. While additional studies must be performed, this study suggest that HO-PN may be a suitable broiler feed ingredient.

Half-Life of African Swine Fever Virus in Shipped Feed

African swine fever virus is transmissible through animal consumption of contaminated feed. To determine virus survival during transoceanic shipping, we calculated the half-life of the virus in 9 feed ingredients exposed to 30-day shipment conditions. Half-lives ranged from 9.6 to 14.2 days, indicating that the feed matrix environment promotes virus stability.

Non-cellulosic polysaccharide content in feed ingredients and ileal and total tract non-cellulosic polysaccharide digestibility in 21- and 42-day-old broilers fed diets with and without added composite enzymes

An initial study profiled non-cellulosic polysaccharide (NCP) levels in feed ingredient samples-corn, soybean meal (SBM), whole soybean, and distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS). A separate NCP digestibility assay was performed in broilers at day 21 (grower phase) and day 42 (finisher phase) fed corn-soy based diets with and without composite enzymes (phytases, multi-carbohydrases, and proteases). Negative control (NC), NC + composite enzymes (NC+E), and positive control (PC) diets were tested. Negative control and NC + E diets were isocaloric, 3,020 kcal/kg ME at grower phase and 3,026 kcal/kg ME at finisher phase. Positive control diet was formulated to meet the Cobb standard nutrient specifications. Diets, pooled digesta, and excreta samples from all treatment diets were collected from 21- and 42-day-old birds and NCP content analyzed as soluble NCP (S-NCP) and insoluble NCP (I-NCP) fractions. Digestibility coefficient (DC) values were determined for all dietary treatments for both the feeding periods. Results from the ingredient analysis showed NCP levels of ∼7 to 10% in corn samples, ∼8 to 11% in SBM samples, ∼11 to 14% (including pectin level) in whole soybean, and ∼12 to 17% in DDGS samples, suggesting variation (P < 0.05) in NCP levels existed within ingredient samples. Digestibility assays showed that enzyme treated (NC + E) diet improved DC values at day 21 from 6 to 10 units and 6 to 9 units for ileal and total tract collection, respectively, for I-NCP fraction (P < 0.05) compared to DC values for NC or PC diets. The ileal DC values at day 42 were not different between treatment diets (∼0.6) but total tract DC values improved 9 to 11 units for broilers fed NC + E diet compared to NC or PC diets. Higher DC values for S-NCP were observed for all treatments for both feeding periods (∼0.7-ileal and ∼0.8-total tract) compared to DC values for I-NCP. Overall, the use of supplemental enzymes in corn-soy-based diets showed improvement in total NCP digestion.

Methanotrophic Bacterial Biomass as Potential Mineral Feed Ingredients for Animals

Microorganisms play an important role in animal nutrition, as they can be used as a source of food or feed. The aim of the study was to determine the nutritional elements and fatty acids contained in the biomass of methanotrophic bacteria. Four bacterial consortia composed of Methylocystis and Methylosinus originating from Sphagnum flexuosum (Sp1), S. magellanicum (Sp2), S. fallax II (Sp3), S. magellanicum IV (Sp4), and one composed of Methylocaldum, Methylosinus, and Methylocystis that originated from coalbed rock (Sk108) were studied. Nutritional elements were determined using the flame atomic absorption spectroscopy technique after a biomass mineralization stage, whereas the fatty acid content was analyzed with the GC technique. Additionally, the growth of biomass and dynamics of methane consumption were monitored. It was found that the methanotrophic biomass contained high concentrations of K, Mg, and Fe, i.e., approx. 9.6–19.1, 2.2–7.6, and 2.4–6.6 g kg⁻¹, respectively. Consequently, the biomass can be viewed as an appropriate feed and/or feed additive for supplementation with macroelements and certain microelements. Moreover, all consortia demonstrated higher content of unsaturated acids than saturated ones. Thus, methanotrophic bacteria seem to be a good solution, in natural supplementation of animal diets.

A Decrease of Incidence Cases of Fumonisins in South Korean Feedstuff between 2011 and 2016

Several plant pathogen Fusarium species produce fumonisins (FUMs); which can end up in food and feed and; when ingested; can exhibit harmful effects on humans and livestock. Mycotoxin intoxication by fumonisin B₁ (FB₁) and fumonisin B₂ (FB₂) can cause porcine pulmonary edema; leukoencephalomalacia in equines; esophageal cancer and birth defects by natural contamination. Herein; the occurrence of FB₁ and FB₂ in feedstuff (compound feed and feed ingredients) was investigated between 2011 and 2016 in South Korea. A total of 535 animal feed samples (425 compound feed samples and 110 feed ingredients) produced domestically were sampled four times between 2011 and 2016 (2011; 2012; 2014 and 2016) from feed factories in South Korea. The limit of detection (LOD) for FB₁ and FB₂ was 20 μg/kg and 25 μg/kg; respectively; and the limit of quantitation (LOQ) was 30 μg/kg and 35 μg/kg; respectively. The recovery range (%) was between 86.4% and 108.8%; and the relative standard deviation (RSD) (%) was 4.7-12.1%. Seven (swine feed samples) out of the 425 feed samples exceeded the European Union (EU) and South Korea commission regulations over the six-year test period; and no feed ingredients exceeded the guidelines.

Estimation of ochratoxin A in poultry feed and its ingredients with special reference to temperature conditions

1. The present study was designed to analyse ochratoxin A (OTA) in poultry feed samples (mixed types) along with different poultry feed ingredients collected from different farms and market of Lahore, Pakistan. 2. The whole year (2012-2013) was divided into three sub-periods depending upon environmental conditions, that is, July-October (hot and humid), November-February (winter) and March-June (moderate). During each sub-period 120 samples were collected for each feed and each ingredient constituting a total of 840 samples (120x7 of feed and feed ingredients in each sub-period). 3. The results of this study indicated that the incidence of OTA-positive samples was highest in July-October followed by that during March-June while the incidence was minimum during November-February. Similarly, the largest number of samples was below the maximum tolerable level (MTL) during November-February followed by March-June while the least number of samples was below MTL during hot weather (July-October). 4. This is the first elaborative study regarding the levels of OTA in poultry feed and its ingredients collected from Lahore, Pakistan.

[Survey on fungi invasion of feed ingredients in 2013-2014 from parts of China]

OBJECTIVE

To survey the fungi contamination of four kinds of feed ingredients in 2013- 2014 from parts of China.

METHODS

A total of 795 feed ingredients including soybean meal, cottonseed meal, wheat bran and distillers dried grains with soluble( DDGS) were collected from representative enterprises in different parts of China. Food safety national standards GB 4789. 15-2010 microbiological examination of food hygiene enumeration of molds and yeast and GB / T 4789. 16-2003 was used to enumerate, isolate and identify fungi, respectively.

RESULTS

A total of 25 genus 54species kinds of fungi were isolated and the fungi from Aspergillus, Penicillium, Fusarium were the common contamination fungi in feed ingredients. Wheat bran was the most serious contaminated feed ingredients by fungi, and the detection rate of fungi contamination in four seasons were all greater than 84. 9%, and the exceeding feed limit rate was amount to 20. 8%. The fungi detection rate and contamination level were relatively lower in cottonseed meal and soybean meal, and the exceeding feed limit rate was 0. 9% and 1. 4%, respectively. There were types of feed ingredients, seasonal and regional differences for Aspergillus flavus and Fusarium moniliforme contamination. The detection rate of Aspergillus flavus in wheat bran was higher in four seasons and all surveyed areas, and autumn and winter and huazhong district were with the highest contamination level. The detection rate of Fusarium moniliforme for soybean meal in autumn and winter and huabei district was higher than others. The detection rate of Aspergillus flavus for DDGS was very low, but the detection rate of Fusarium moniliforme was higher, especially for autumn and huazhong district, the detection rate was 40. 4%and 50. 0%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

The feed ingredients from China were commonly contaminated by fungi. It is recommended that strengthening the fungi contamination monitoring of feed ingredients from summer and autumn, huabei and huazhong district was an important prevention method.

Assessment of aflatoxin B1 in livestock feed and feed ingredients by high-performance thin layer chromatography

Aim:

Detection of aflatoxin B1 in Livestock compound Feed and feed ingredients by high-performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC).

Materials and Methods:

Chromatography was performed on HPTLC silica gel 60 F 254, aluminum sheets by CAMAG automatic TLC sampler 4, with mobile phase condition chloroform:acetone:water (28:4:0.06). Extraction of aflatoxin B1 from samples was done as per AOAC method and screening and quantification done by HPTLC Scanner 4 under wavelength 366 nm.

Results:

A total of 97 livestock feed (48) and feed ingredients (49) samples received from different livestock farms and farmers were analyzed for aflatoxin B1of which 29 samples were contaminated, constituting 30%. Out of 48 livestock compound feed samples, aflatoxin B1 could be detected in 16 samples representing 33%, whereas in livestock feed ingredients out of 49 samples, 13 found positive for aflatoxin B1 representing 24.5%.

Conclusion:

HPTLC assures good recovery, precision, and linearity in the quantitative determination of aflatoxin B1 extracted from Livestock compound feed and feed ingredients. As more number of feed and feed ingredients are contaminated with aflatoxin B1 which causes deleterious effects in both animal and human beings, so there is a need for identifying the source of contamination, executing control measures, enabling better risk assessment techniques, and providing economic benefits.

Comparative effect of selenium in wheat, barley, fish meal and sodium selenite for prevention of exudative diathesis in chicks

Groups af White Leghorn chicks obtained from dams deprived on selenium (Se), were fed from hatching a low-Se-vitamin E basal diet alone, or supplemented with 0.02, 0.04, 0.06 or 0.08 mg Se/kg diet, as sodium selenite (Na2SeO₃ · 5H₂O), wheat, barley or fish meal. Prevention of the Se-vitamin E deficiency responsive disease exudative diathesis (ED) as it was clinical observed, induction of the plasma Se dependent enzyme glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity, and Se concentration in the cardiac muscle were observed to be dietary Se level and source dependent. Slope ratio assay was applied to estimate the biological availability of Se in the natural sources relative to Se in sodium selenite. For the prevention of ED, the bioavailability of Se in wheat, barley and fish meal was 99, 85 and 80 %, respectively. The increase in the plasma GSH-Px activity revealed a bioavailability for Se in wheat, barley and fish meal of 79, 71 and 66 %, respectively. Using retention of Se in the cardiac muscle as the bioassay, a bioavailability of 108, 87 and 100 % was calculated for wheat, barley and fish meal Se, respectively.