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Preventing intentional or accidental adulteration of the grain supply is paramount to preserving the vitality of U.S. agriculture. This research holds the opportunity to establish industry-university partnerships to develop and offer science-based training modules directed at the prevention and mitigation of such threats to the food supply. <P>This research will directly benefit domestic and international grain brokers and storage facilities. Animal feeds and petfood are recognized as a potential etiological factor. As the U.S. feed and petfood industries implement the regulations required under the Food Safety Modernization Act, it is anticipated that feed hygiene regulations will be required. There will be a need to have effective methods for controlling microbial contamination in feed and petfood. This research will provide manufacturers with techniques to monitor and control microbiological contaminants.
Non-Technical Summary:<br/>
The following projects are directed at evaluating animal feed and petfood processing techniques to control pathogens. The three primary objectives of this project are: 1) to quantify the relationship between bacteria detection in a complete diet and dietary inclusion levels of a bacteria contaminated feedstuffs; 2) to quantify the interactivity between thermal processing and the application of chemicals relative to controlling pathogens in animal feeds and petfoods; and 3) evaluating the efficacy of post-processing organic acid application for preventing pathogen contamination. Collectively, this project will result in the creation of science-based performance standards on treatment inputs and expected levels of control for microbial contaminants.
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Approach:<br/>
A comprehensive survey assessing threats and vulnerabilities associated with pathogens and toxins will be conducted. Once the threats have been compiled, models will be developed and processing techniques evaluated for their effectiveness to destroy pathogens. Samples of raw materials and complete feeds will be collected at key locations throughout the feed and petfood manufacturing processes. The inter-relationship between contamination levels and processing steps will be based on the reduction or elimination of cross transference of prohibited proteins.
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Progress:<br/>
2012/01 TO 2012/12<br/>
OUTPUTS: Ingredients such as rendered chicken meals and dried egg represent traditional protein sources in livestock feed and petfood diets. However, there is little data available regarding the proteins. The data that is available focuses solely on proximate nutrient composition, not the protein utilization or pathogen profile of the ingredient (Johnson et al., 1996, Dust et al., 2005, Cramer et al., 2006). Therefore, pilot studies were instigated to determine the nutrient composition, nutrient utilization, protein efficiency ratio, and pathogen concentration of these meals in comparison to other protein sources common in livestock feed and pet food. Diets were prepared in accordance with the dietary composition found a N-free basal diet. Experimental protein sources were added to the N-free diet to contribute 10% CP in place of cornstarch. The protein sources were: 1) chicken byproduct meal, 2) chicken meal, 3) spray-dried chicken, 4) spray-dried egg, 5) spray-dried egg yolk, 6) spray-dried egg white, 7) corn gluten meal, 8) soybean meal, 9) soy protein concentrate, 10) rice protein concentrate. Proximate analysis, amino acids, and mineral composition were analyzed for each diet, and data analysis is underway. Protein efficiency ratio in chicks was determined according to Cramer et al. (2007). Diets containing spray-dried egg products had the greater protein efficiency ratio (P < 0.05) than diets containing corn gluten meal or rice protein concentration. Salmonella-positive samples were identified and concentrations are currently being quantified and serotyped. A total of 18.75% of samples tested positive for Salmonella contamination. These positive samples all originated from diets containing either chicken byproduct meal or chicken meal. Interestingly, initial results do not show an interaction between PER and Salmonella contamination of rendered animal products.
<br/>PARTICIPANTS: Lakshmikantha Channaiah, KSU Dept. Grain Science & Industry
<br/>TARGET AUDIENCES: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
<br/>PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
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IMPACT: Preliminary data demonstrates that 18.75% of rendered protein by-products tested positive for Salmonella. Data suggests this contamination occurs from cross- or recontamination with raw ingredients. Initial results suggest that 7.5% of these Salmonella species were pathogenic and disease-causing