Occurrence of Escherichia coli and Salmonella species in Some Livestock (Poultry) Feeds in Mando, Kaduna, Nigeria

The study aimed at assessing the proximate composition, isolation, characterization of some Enterobacteriaceae from two (2) brands of poultry feeds marketed in Mando, Kaduna, Nigeria. A total of sixteen (16) samples of two (2) different poultry feeds (starter and finisher) from four (4) poultry farms in mando were collected and subjected to proximate and microbiological analysis. The proximate analysis was carried out using standard techniques and procedures. All the feed samples were cultured on separate media which include Eosin methylene blue (EMB), nutrient Agar (NA) and Salmonella-Shigella Agar (SSA) media using standard procedures. The antibiogram of the selected antibiotics was evaluated against the test isolates. The result of proximate analysis of the starter and finisher feeds indicated that the Dry matter of starter feed had the highest percentage composition of 95.02% and crude fiber of the finisher feed had the lowest composition of 3.78%. The highest number of bacterial load was recorded to be 10.0×104 CFU/g for the feed sample A (starter feed) and 12.0x104CFU/g was recorded for the feed sample B (finisher feed) which had the highest number of bacterial load recorded among the two (2) different poultry feeds analyzed. The bacteria isolates were identified as Salmonella species and Escherichia coli. Total viable count (TVC) of Salmonella species and E. coli in the feed samples (starter and finisher) ranges from 3.0×104CFU/g to 12.0×104CFU/g. Both organisms (Salmonella species, E. coli) were found as 37.5% and 25% of the analyzed feeds (Broiler starter and broiler finisher) samples, respectively. There was no level of significant (p>0.05) difference between the level of contamination of Salmonella species and E. coli in the two different feeds analyzed, as p=0.06 and p=0.13 for Salmonella species, and E. coli respectively. Sample A and B (Starter and Finisher) feeds had the highest number of Salmonella species occurrence with six ( 6) positive samples while E. coli was recorded in four (4) samples of A and B (Starter and Finisher) feeds. The result of the antibiogram indicated that ciprofloxacin (30 µg), Gentamycin (30µg), Perfloxacin (30µg) and Tarvid (30µg) was effective against Salmonella species and Escherichia coli. The significant of spread of the species of the Enterobacteriaceae in livestock feeds requires the need for effective quality assurance and control, good hygiene practices in production and proper handling of the poultry feeds.

Aflatoxin in Dairy Cows: Toxicity, Occurrence in Feedstuffs and Milk and Dietary Mitigation Strategies

Aflatoxins are poisonous carcinogens produced by fungi, mainly Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus. Aflatoxins can contaminate a variety of livestock feeds and cause enormous economic losses, estimated at between US$52.1 and US$1.68 billion annually for the U.S. corn industry alone. In addition, aflatoxin can be transferred from the diet to the milk of cows as aflatoxin M1 (AFM1), posing a significant human health hazard. In dairy cows, sheep and goats, chronic exposure to dietary aflatoxin can reduce milk production, impair reproduction and liver function, compromise immune function, and increase susceptibility to diseases; hence, strategies to lower aflatoxin contamination of feeds and to prevent or reduce the transfer of the toxin to milk are required for safeguarding animal and human health and improving the safety of dairy products and profitability of the dairy industry. This article provides an overview of the toxicity of aflatoxin to ruminant livestock, its occurrence in livestock feeds, and the effectiveness of different strategies for preventing and mitigating aflatoxin contamination of feeds.

ASSESSMENT OF SOME QUALITIES OF COMMERCIAL LIVESTOCK FEEDS

The nutrient qualities of different classes of commercial livestock feed were monitored over a period of 20 weeks for changes in their chemical composition as well as differences between actual chemical contents and tagged specifications. Feed samples were collected from farms and feed depois around Abekuta in Ogun State. Results obtained reveled wide ranges of values (P < 0.05) within feeds of the same class, depending on the miller(s). Creep feed pellet had CP values (21.98±0.21%) which were 0.01% less than the recommended nutrient requirement for creep pigs. There was low CP in some layers diet (13%) (P < 0.05). All feeds types analysed had consistently and significantly higher crude fibre values than recommended for the relevant animals while energy and CP were noticeably low. The study further showed that finished feeds and feed ingredients were adulterated with saw dust, sand urea, rice bran, etc. The needs for feed quality standardization and monitoring as well as the usage of agro-industrial by products in appropriate proportions were examined and recommendations made.

ASSESSMENT OF ABATTOIR AND SLAUGHTER SLAB OPERATIONS IN OYO STATE, NIGERIA

A study of daily activities at 15 registered slaughter points in Oyo State was conducted for six months. A total of 43,087 animals were slaughtered during the period. Cattle accounted. for 62.06%, sheep 4.50%, goats 28.13% and pigs 5.31% of the total. Make species were slaughtered in most cases. Ante-mortem inspection was restricted to the two abattoirs in the state while stunning of pigs was only observed in one of the abattoirs. Processing blood and bones for livestock feeds was common the operations to all the slaughter points in Ibadan. However, inadequate water supply and poor drainage were the major problems identified in most of the slaughter points.

THE ECONOMIC IMPLICATION OF SUBSTITUTING COCOA POD HUSK FOR MAIZE IN LIVESTOCK FEEDS IN NIGERIA.

A study was conducted to estimate the amount of maize that could be conserved by substituting cocoa pod husk (CPH) for maize in livestock feeds. For this purpose a conversion coefficient between dry cocoa beans and dry CPH was estimated by using data collected from a survey of 50 cocoa farms. Some livestock feed millers in Nigeria were also surveyed to obtain the composition of feeds for different livestock species. Using the conversion coefficient between dry cocoa beans and dry CPH together with dry cocoa bean outputs between 1970 and 1996 it was estimated that Nigeria produced an average of 274,800 metric tonnes of CPH per year. Using the amount of livestock feed consumption in Nigeria from 1977 - 1996 and the percentage of maize component of the rations, the amount of maize utilized in livestock seeds for the period was estimated 6 Further, using the safe levels of CPH substitution in the various livesto-k feeds as suggested by research conducted in the past, the amount of maize which could be conserved by incorporating CPH in the various feed types was estimated as an annual average of 39,473 metric tonnes of maize. This saying was found to bridge the deficit between demand and supply as given by supplementation done by importing maize. The study concluded that by utilizing (CPH) in compounding various livestock feed rations, the high price of maize arising from excessive demand can be reduced. The limiting role of maize in making available livestock feeds will be alleviated. Furthermore, increased revenue to cocoa producers would accrue as result of additional revenue generated from sale of CPH and good environmental sanitation reducing the incidence of black pod disease and consequently reducing investment in chemicals and labour for the control of the disease. Finally, more malze would be available for human consumption and the supplementation that was done in the form of maize importation may not be necessary.

Soybean protein hydrolysate stimulated cholecystokinin secretion and inhibited feed intake through calcium-sensing receptors and intracellular calcium signalling in pigs

Although soybean protein is the major component in livestock feeds, its effect on pigs’ appetites is largely unknown. Recently, the importance of gut nutrient-sensing for appetite modulation by regulating anorectic...

Beyond the protein concept: health aspects of using edible insects on animals

There is an increasing interest in the use of insects in animal feed since they contain high proteins levels, lipids, vitamins and minerals. In particular, insect-derived proteins are seen as one of the potential solution to face the increasing protein shortage and are able to fully substitute soybean meal or fishmeal in aquaculture or livestock feeds. However, beside their interesting nutritional composition, insects are also rich in bioactive compounds such as chitin, antimicrobial peptides or specific fatty acids with immunostimulating, antimicrobial and/or anti-inflammatory properties able to sustain animal health, increase their resistance to diseases. Further studies will also have to investigate whether insects share similarities with bacterial or parasitical pathogens and may act as immunostimulants. These recent findings may launch insects beyond the protein concept into healthy animal feeds. This review presents the effects of insects and their bioactive compounds on fish and crustaceans, poultry, pigs and rabbits immune system, gut health, microbiota and resistance to diseases.