Treating feed and feed storage bins with organic acids will help poultry producers reduce the risk of salmonella contamination in their flocks and help them comply with the recently implemented National Salmonella Control Programme.
In 2005, 8% of UK flocks were infected with salmonella and the National Control Programme target is to reduce this by 10% by 2010. Since 1st January this year, eggs from salmonella positive flocks must be excluded from the food chain.
"Salmonella is principally spread by several main vectors and poultry producers need to take steps to reduce all possible risks," comments Richard Scragg from Optivite. "This will include improving biosecurity and possibly vaccination, but treating feed is another effective control measure."
Animal feedstuffs are known as a possible route by which salmonella can enter the food chain but treatment of feed or feed storage areas with organic acids can be an effective control measure. Organic acids have a powerful antimicrobial effect and can significantly reduce salmonella infection levels while not presenting antibiotic resistance issues.
Salgard, a blend of organic acid salts can be applied to feed ingredients, incorporated in pelletted feeds or added to feed as it is blown into a storage bin. The organic acids have a powerful anti-bacterial and anti-fungal effect and 50% of salmonella organisms are killed within an hour with full potency achieved in 24 hours. The presence of ammonium salts ensures a neutral pH is maintained, making Salgard non-corrosive and safe and easy to use.
"Treating feed with Salgard not only reduces salmonella levels in the feed, but also helps keep feed storage areas and feeding machinery free from infection," continues Mr Scragg. "Adding just 2kg of Salgard to feed as it is blown into the feed bin will help eliminate one of the major vectors by which salmonella can be spread."
Mr Scragg also points out that Salgard can be used to treat litter in free range and barn flocks. He advises treating litter on a fortnightly basis and also treating areas of high bird traffic such as the entrances to housing.
"All egg producers are currently perched on a knife edge and want to do all they can to reduce the risk of salmonella. Treating feed is a good starting point and Salgard has been used successfully in the control of salmonella in poultry flocks since 1992," Mr Scragg concludes.
