Abstract
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.
Highlights
Poultry farming contributes significantly to poverty alleviation by providing employment opportunities to Nigerians
This study was aimed at assessing the fungal and proximate qualities of poultry feeds sold in Benin City, Nigeria
The fungal species isolated from poultry feeds sampled in this study include Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, Penicillium spp., Saccharomyces spp., Trichoderma spp., Rhizopus spp. and Mucor spp
Summary
Poultry farming contributes significantly to poverty alleviation by providing employment opportunities to Nigerians. Healthy poultry require adequate amounts of carbohydrates, lipids and proteins along with necessary vitamins and dietary minerals. These nutritional components are important for the development and growth of farm animals (Dmello and MacDonald, 1998). The raw materials used for the formulation of feeds are sourced from different origin including animal and plant, most are mainly agro-wastes. Most of these feed additives have been implicated as the primary sources of microorganisms of public health concern in poultry feeds (Afolayan and Afolayan, 2008; Matthew et al, 2017)
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