Feed hygienisation (feed safety)

Last update: 2 June 2023

• Action: Elimination/reduction of pathogens from feed (primary preventative measures).
• Animal categories: All farmed species, more specifically poultry.
• Technique: Use of specific heat treatment technology such as short-term conditioners, long term conditioners, double conditioning / pelleting, anaerobic pasteurizer, expander / extruder allowing, through an optimized combination temperature / pressure / moisture / conditioning time, to kill Salmonella; the temperature is usually comprised between 65 and 85°C; lower temperatures require a longer duration of treatment.
• Mode of action: The heat treatment combination kills off Salmonella, which is the most critical potential pathogenic bacteria present in feed; the usual time / temperature combinations used in commercial pelleting process do not effectively kill bacteria but may reduce presence.
• Mode of implementation: Sometimes combined with acid treatment to prevent subsequent recontamination.
• Requirements/limitations: The use of heat treatment as corrective action to eliminate Salmonella from a contaminated consignment is subject to specific national rules and in many cases needs verification.
• Economic consequences: Heat treating feed requires extra energy but can offset significant financial losses of Salmonella contaminated feed.
• Other considerations: The heat treatment may affect the nutritional value of the feed which may need to be taken into account in the specification of the particular feed.
• References:
  • Tomicic et al. (2019). Salmonella in the feed industry: problems and potential solutions. Journal of Agronomy, Technology and Engineering Management – Vol. 2(1): 130-137.
  • FT Jones (2011). A review of practical Salmonella control measures in animal feed. Journal of Applied Poultry Research. Volume 20, Issue 1, 1 March 2011, Pages 102-113. https://doi.org/10.3382/japr.2010-00281
  • EFSA (2008). Microbiological risk assessment in feedingstuffs for food-producing animals. EFSA Journal 720, 5-84. https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2008.720
• Other techniques: Chemical treatment; combination of chemical and heat treatment.