Sustainable feed resources for optimizing broiler performance in tropical countries

Soybean meal and grain corn are feedstuffs that normally used as the main ingredients in poultry feeds as a source of protein and energy in tropical countries. The availability of these feedstuffs for broiler nutrition nowadays is becoming more competitive. Thus, food security, especially in the developing countries, would be susceptible. Currently, efforts are being made to use alternative feedstuffs as a sustainable feed resources to substitute portion of soybean meal and grain corn in poultry diets due to their high price since both of the raw material were imported. In Malaysia, usage of PKC is common in ruminant diets, but limited in the non-ruminant diets especially in poultry diets due to the high fiber content of PKC. Several works have been conducted to increase the nutritional contents of PKC as one of the measures to reduce and/or eliminate the constraints of utilizing PKC in poultry diets. The method used to achieve this target is either through physical, chemical, biological or combination of these treatments. This paper discusses the use of PKC as the sustainable feed resources that can be incorporated in the poultry feeds. Hence, emphasis should be given to improve nutritional values of PKC in order to reduce feeding cost of poultry.

FUNGAL COMPOSITION AND PROXIMATE ANALYSIS OF POULTRY FEEDS SOLD IN BENIN CITY, NIGERIA

Poultry farming contributes significantly to poverty alleviation by providing employment opportunities to Nigerians. Feed quality is the most prominent challenge of the poultry sector. This study was aimed at assessing the fungal and proximate qualities of poultry feeds sold in Benin City, Nigeria. Poultry feed samples (starter, grower and finisher) were obtained from five stores in Benin City. Enumeration and isolation of fungi was carried out using the spread plate method on potato dextrose agar and Aspergillus flavus and parasiticus agar (AFPA). Identification of fungal isolates was based on cultural and morphological characteristics. Proximate composition was determined by standard methods. The total fungal counts of starter, grower and finisher feeds ranged from 0.10 – 8.50 x 105 sfu/g. Fungal species isolated were Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, Penicillium spp., Saccharomyces spp., Trichoderma spp., Rhizopus spp. and Mucor spp. The results from proximate analysis were as follows: 36.50±0.92 - 70.92±0.51% (protein), 3.53±0.04 - 8.45±0.16% (fibre), 11.61±0.72 - 13.91±0.27% (fat), 2.70 - 8.60% (moisture content) and 3.65 - 37.83% (carbohydrate). The temperature and relative humidity of storage ranged from 33.90oC - 35.20oC and 69% - 75% respectively. Results showed that poultry feeds sampled have diverse fungi present in them. Control measures should be adhered to in poultry industries and stores to prevent microbial contamination.

Common Hazards to Consider during the Manufacturing of Poultry Feed

This publication aims to provide a list of common hazards to consider when manufacturing poultry feeds. Written by Jessica Brown, Ashley Cavallo, Lindsay Zombek, Carli Brown, Arianna Minnie, Mindi Dennis, Gabrielle Allen, and Jason M. Scheffler, and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Animal Sciences, October 2021.

Mycotoxins in Poultry Feed and Feed Ingredients from Sub-Saharan Africa and Their Impact on the Production of Broiler and Layer Chickens: A Review

The poultry industry in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is faced with feed insecurity, associated with high cost of feeds, and feed safety, associated with locally produced feeds often contaminated with mycotoxins. Mycotoxins, including aflatoxins (AFs), fumonisins (FBs), trichothecenes, and zearalenone (ZEN), are common contaminants of poultry feeds and feed ingredients from SSA. These mycotoxins cause deleterious effects on the health and productivity of chickens and can also be present in poultry food products, thereby posing a health hazard to human consumers of these products. This review summarizes studies of major mycotoxins in poultry feeds, feed ingredients, and poultry food products from SSA as well as aflatoxicosis outbreaks. Additionally reviewed are the worldwide regulation of mycotoxins in poultry feeds, the impact of major mycotoxins in the production of chickens, and the postharvest use of mycotoxin detoxifiers. In most studies, AFs are most commonly quantified, and levels above the European Union regulatory limits of 20 μg/kg are reported. Trichothecenes, FBs, ZEN, and OTA are also reported but are less frequently analyzed. Co-occurrences of mycotoxins, especially AFs and FBs, are reported in some studies. The effects of AFs on chickens’ health and productivity, carryover to their products, as well as use of mycotoxin binders are reported in few studies conducted in SSA. More research should therefore be conducted in SSA to evaluate occurrences, toxicological effects, and mitigation strategies to prevent the toxic effects of mycotoxins.

EVALUATION OF QUALITY OF POULTRY FEEDS SOLD IN KATSINA METROPOLIS, KATSINA STATE, NIGERIA

In Katsina metropolitan, a variety of poultry feeds are available, and the quality and standards of these feeds are critical for the production of eggs and meat. As a result, the quality of selected chicken feeds sold in Katsina metropolitan was assessed by performing proximate analysis using AOAC methodology. Super starter, grower concentrate, broiler finisher, broiler starter, broiler super starter, layer mesh, grower mesh, and layer concentrate were among the samples used. The percentage mean to standard deviation was used to express the findings. The crude protein content of the diets studied ranged from 0.46 ± 0.00 percent to, 8.24± 0.02 percent, ash content 6.31± 0.01 percent – 33.30± 0.04 percent, crude fiber content 1.03 ±0.00 percent – 3.21± 0.00 percent, lipid content 0.11± 0.00 percent, 2.30 ±0.00 percent, moisture content 4.28 ±0.25 – 6.66 ±0.78 percent, and carbohydrate content 51.78± 2.68 – 83.72 ±0.57 percent. Although there was variation in the mean and standard deviation levels among the samples analyzed, such variations were not statistically significant (P>0.05) according to a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) for the difference in the mean levels of parameters evaluated in eight samples

Morphometric and Genomic Characterization of Toxigenic Aspergillus Isolates Associated with Poultry Feeds and Feed Ingredients from Five Agro-Ecological Zones of Nigeria

Introduction: Toxigenic aspergilli are storage contaminants of poultry feeds and feed ingredients which produce secondary metabolites known as mycotoxins in these products. This research is aimed at detecting and characterizing mycotoxin producing aspergillus species present in feeds given to poultry birds and in the ingredients used in the production of these feeds. Method: A total of 102 samples of feed (n=30) and feed ingredients (n=72) were collected across 5 agro-ecological zones of Nigeria and analyzed for toxigenic Aspergilli using morphometric and molecular genomic characterization techniques. Different mycological media was used for isolation, by deploying pour plate method. The Aspergilli isolates morphometric identity were characterized using macroscopic and microscopic observed features. The isolated Aspergillus species were further characterized molecularly using genomic characterization protocols. Results: The results of the morphometric characterization indicated that nine (9) Aspergillus species were detected in the feed and feed ingredients, with Aspergillus flavus having the highest rate of occurrence among the isolates. Furthermore, the genomic typing using internal transcribe spacer (ITS) as a barcode, as well as comparison of the fungal isolates with other Aspergillus species in the genebank showed 99-100% similarity. Also, toxigenic gene typing indicated that some of the A. flavus were toxigenic with the detection of the following genes Nor-1, ver-1, OmtB and AflR. Conclusion: The findings of this study showed that toxigenic Aspergilli isolates are present in both poultry feed and feed ingredients from 5 agro-ecological zones in Nigeria and poses great public health issues.