Microbial contamination of poultry feed and the effects on birds’ performance

Abstract

Poultry feeds are made with ingredients from different raw materials; therefore contamination with microbial agents is very common. When contaminated poultry feeds are consumed by birds, they may serve as reservoirs for many human pathogens. Bacterial pathogens seem to be the most prevalent, viral and fungal pathogens are also hazardous in poultry feeds. When microorganisms colonize poultry feeds, they utilize the readily available nutrients in the feed, thereby reducing its nutritional quality. Therefore, information on the diversity of microbial contaminants in feeds is important in designing effective feed monitoring and hazard control strategies. Some of the established contaminants of poultry feeds are bacterial and fungal agents and their secretory products. These microbes are released in the feed through raw feed ingredients, stored feed products, during feed processing and handling as well as through other environmental sources. Contaminated poultry feed adversely affects feed intake, feed conversion ratio, weight gain, organ function and alters blood and clinical chemistry parameters of birds. This review provides background information on the various microbes that contaminate poultry feeds, their sources, the adverse impacts on the health and performance parameters of birds as well as their control strategies.