Published in Scientific Bulletin. Series F. Biotechnologies, Vol. XXI
Written by Vesna KRNJAJA, Aleksandar STANOJKOVIĆ, Zorica BIJELIĆ, Violeta MANDIĆ, Miloš LUKIĆ, Zdenka ŠKRBIĆ, Veselin PETRIČEVIĆ

This study examines the mycological quality of poultry feed in 69 samples (45 samples of chicken feed and 24 samples of feed for layers) in 2014 and in 44 samples of poultry feed (34 samples of chicken feed and 10 samples of feed for layers) in 2015. The total fungal count was determined using a dilution method, and standard mycological methods were used to identify potential toxigenic fungi genera. The chicken feed contained total fungal count above the allowed limit in 26.67% of samples in 2014, and in 14.71% of samples in 2015, while the total fungal count above the limit in the feed for layers was established only in year 2014, in 8.33% of the samples. Potentially toxigenic fungi species belonging to the genera Aspergillus, Fusarium and Penicillium were identified in both groups of studied poultry feed mixtures during both years. In chicken feed, the highest number of Fusarium positive samples in both years was recorded, 73.3% in 2014 and 64.71% of the samples in 2015. In the feed for layers, in the majority of samples (83.33%), Fusarium species were identified in 2014, while in year 2015, the species of the genera Aspergillus and Fusarium were identified in the majority of samples (90%). Based on these results it can be concluded that the sanitary and hygiene conditions during the production of poultry feed must be determined by specific strategies for the reduction of the incidence of potentially toxigenic species of the genera Aspergillus, Fusarium and Penicillium. This strategy involves the use of complex and integrated measures to combat, especially during the growing of grain and other plants as the main raw materials, as well as during periods of storage and preservation of basic raw materials and finished mixtures used for poultry feeding.

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