MICROORGANISMS ASSOCIATED WITH POULTRY FEEDS IN SOUTH WEST, NIGERIA

Abstract

The rate of mortality of poultry as a result of contaminated feeds is of the increase in the recent times. This study was carried out to determine the level of contamination, microbial loads and spoilage of selected poultry feeds in south west Nigeria. Rabiu Feeds, Caps Feeds, Ayo Best Feeds and Top feeds were selected and sampled. Standard pour plate methods were used for the analyses. Results obtained revealed average range of total viable count, coliform counts, Staphylococus counts and fungal counts of 2.35 - 7.10x 104 Cfu/g, 0.55-2.65x104, 0.50-2.90 Cfu/g and 1.30-3.30 x 104 Cfu/g respectively. Microorganisms obtained include fifteen bacteria, eight yeast and five mould isolates. The genera are Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Klebsiella, Enterobacter, Escherichia, Staphylococus, Micrococcus, Alcaligenes, Acinetobacter, Salmonella, Serratia, Corynebacterium, Clostridium, Erwinia, Flavobacterium, Saccharomyces, Candida, Geotrichum, Rhodotorula, Kluyveromyces, Torulopsis, Hansenula, Pichia, Aspergillus, Rhizopus, Fusarium, Mucour and Talaromyces. Fifty percent of the isolates were known pathogenic microorganisms. This study therefore, concludes and recommends that stringent hygienic measures during production and storage of poultry feeds should be followed and enforced to the later. Constants inspection by the Standard Regulatory Bodies to the production sites should be encouraged.