Effects of a Chemical Additive and of Formaldehyde-gas Fumigation on Salmonella in Poultry Feeds ,

Abstract

Chick starter, fish meal, and meat and bone meal were artificially contaminated with S. senftenberg 775W at a level of 2×106 cells/gm. of feed and treated with a chemical feed additive (EndgermR) at levels of 0.0, 0.1, and 0.2%. A standard quantitative test for Salmonella was made on the treated feed samples during a 10-day storage period to determine the inhibitory effect of Endgerm on the presence of Salmonella in poultry feeds.Endgerm had no significant effect on elimination of Salmonella in feeds at levels of 2×106 organisms/gm. Reduction of Salmonella populations in treated feeds was attributed to spontaneous reduction rather than any deleterious effect of the chemical. Degree of reduction of Salmonella populations differed between type of feed with meat and bone meal being the least deleterious and chick starter the most.Salmonella contaiminated feed was fumigated with formaldehyde-gas at 37°C. and 60% relative humidity. A standard qualitative test for Salmonella was made on the fumigated feed samples. Fumigation for 20 min. was effective in eliminating Salmonella in feed depths up to and including 1.91 cm. A 5-min. fumigation period during continuous mixing of Salmonella contaminated feed was sufficient to eliminate Salmonella in 9.1 kg. of feed.Formaldehyde-gas fumigation of feed affected neither its palatability nor biological value for broilers.