Effect of heat treatment and feed acidification on feed quality and salmonella

Salmonella is a heat sensitive bacteria, so heat treatment of feed during preconditioning has become standard practice to improve feed hygiene. The dilemma with this strategy is that pelleting offers no protection against recontamination of feed. Davies and Wray (1997) conducted a study in the UK where almost 3,100 samples of spillage and dust were taken and isolated for salmonella prevalence at various places and time points in 9 feed mills. A wide range of salmonellas were isolated, including