{"id":79640,"date":"2021-09-07T10:00:49","date_gmt":"2021-09-07T08:00:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ew-nutrition.com\/?p=79640"},"modified":"2023-06-09T10:43:41","modified_gmt":"2023-06-09T08:43:41","slug":"stop-feed-spoilage-organic-acids-preserve-feed-quality","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ew-nutrition.com\/us\/stop-feed-spoilage-organic-acids-preserve-feed-quality\/","title":{"rendered":"Stop feed spoilage: How organic acids can preserve feed quality"},"content":{"rendered":"
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By Technical Team, EW Nutrition<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Feed spoilage is a significant issue for the feed industry, leading to loss of nutrients, feed waste, and substantial economic issues for feed and animal producers worldwide <\/strong>(<\/strong>Leyva Salas et al., 2017<\/strong><\/a>). Fungal growth is one of the main causes of feed spoilage; it can occur at any stage of the feed production chain, including grain pre- and post-harvest processes, during feed production or storage. Organic acids and their salts are globally used in animal nutrition for microbial preservation and supporting animal health.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"OrganicOrganic acids help preserve animal feed and prevent spoilage through molds, yeasts, and mycotoxins<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

The threat of molds and yeasts in animal feed<\/h1>\n

Yeasts and molds can have both positive and negative effects on products consumed by animals and humans. On the one hand, yeasts are used to produce fermented products, such as bread, wine, and beer. On the other hand, yeasts and molds promote the spoilage of raw materials, food, and feeds (Lowes et al., 2000<\/a>). Molds are among the most potent food and feed spoilers. They can be very resilient to environmental stress, which is a concern in climate change scenarios (Perrone et al., 2020<\/a>) and enables them to withstand feed preservation measures (Punt et al., 2020<\/a>).<\/p>\n

Several hundred species of molds and yeasts can invade a large variety of raw materials and feeds. They show an easy adaptation to different environments; for instance, they can grow and reproduce in media with pH levels ranging from 2 to above 9 (Tournas et al., 2001<\/a>). However, the majority of yeasts and molds require free oxygen to grow and thrive.<\/p>\n

Excess moisture, high water activity, and high temperatures in feedstuffs are the main mold growth factors that concern the feed industry (Mohapatra et al., 2017<\/a>).\u00a0 At storage, grains\u2019 moisture content should not exceed 13%, and the water activity of raw materials, feedstuffs, and finished feed should be maintained below 0.8 (Dijksterhuis et al., 2019<\/a>). \u00a0Controlling these points contributes to preventing the growth of most pathogens and undesirable microorganisms.<\/p>\n

\"Mold Mold growth reduces the nutritional value of feed, which affects animal health and performance<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

The microbiology of molds and how they affect the feed<\/h2>\n

The microbial growth dynamic of grain storage depends on several factors, including the harvest season<\/a>, grain temperature and moisture content, as well as the type of facility and its environment. For instance, in some areas, grains are harvested at the beginning of the cold season and stored through the following warm season. Storage molds constitute a significant threat to the quality of these raw materials, especially during the warm months, when the stored grains may become hotter than the surrounding environment. This leads to condensation, which increases moisture and water activity. Molds easily thrive in these conditions.<\/p>\n

Storage molds reduce the nutritional and commercial value of grains and feeds. For grains, their commercial value decreases when the appearance of kernels changes in a manner recognized by the grain industry as kernel damage. The chemical composition of feeds may deteriorate due to enzymatic actions, resulting in a loss of nutrients (energy, vitamins) and the production of free fatty acids and other unwanted by-products (Reed et al., 2007<\/a>).<\/p>\n

Extensive research has established the factors that influence mold-induced deterioration during grain storage and which management strategies are required:<\/p>\n