Safe feed refers to the feed used for food-producing animals. The various ingredients should not produce harmful organic or inorganic substances within the animal body that could negatively affect human health (Liu et al., 2000). Ensuring the safety of feed is a critical aspect of sustainable feed production and public health. Several factors influence feed safety, including the quality of raw materials, their safe storage, the proper control of additives in the formulation, the management of artificial additions during processing, the design of efficient processing technologies, and the selection of appropriate operational parameters. Effective feed storage management after processing is also essential. Only when all these aspects are strictly controlled can safe feed be produced.
**Raw Material Control and Safe Storage**
Feed ingredients are the first critical point in ensuring feed safety. Some plant-based ingredients may contain pesticide residues due to pest infestations during growth, leading to contamination in cereal products. Feed mills must strengthen testing procedures when receiving raw materials, particularly for pesticide residues. Additionally, industrial waste, such as wastewater and exhaust gases, can pollute feed ingredients, posing further risks.
Currently, many feed manufacturers lack the necessary testing equipment to detect pesticide residues and industrial contaminants. This is a major risk factor in producing safe feed, and producers must pay close attention to this issue. Moisture content is a key factor in the safe storage of feed ingredients. Freshly harvested plant materials often have high moisture levels, making them prone to mold growth and mycotoxin contamination. This can significantly degrade feed quality. To minimize mold growth, it's crucial to maintain moisture levels below 12% and improve storage conditions. In some cases, using anti-fungal agents is an effective measure, although they do not eliminate existing mycotoxins. Therefore, mold prevention should occur early, before contamination occurs.
Due to the current shortage of feed ingredients, adulteration has become a serious problem. This poses significant challenges to the production of safe feed. Rigorous testing upon receiving raw materials is essential to ensure they meet quality standards and prevent substandard materials from entering the facility.
Corn is the most commonly used feed ingredient, typically stored in vertical silos, especially steel ones. Fluctuating temperatures between day and night can cause condensation, increasing moisture near the silo walls. Long-term storage under such conditions can lead to mold growth. To address this, silo management should include regular turning of the materials to reduce moisture and ensure safe storage.
**Raw Material Cleaning**
During feed processing, cleaning for large impurities and magnetic contaminants is often emphasized to protect processing equipment. However, small and medium-sized impurities are frequently overlooked. These impurities can act as breeding grounds for harmful microorganisms. When moisture and temperature are favorable, they can multiply rapidly, producing harmful substances that threaten feed safety. Removing these impurities is essential for maintaining feed quality and safety.
**Control of Harmful Components in Raw Materials**
Feed ingredients vary widely in composition, and some naturally contain toxic or harmful substances. For example, vegetable-based ingredients may contain alkaloids, free gossypol, tannins, and protease inhibitors. Animal-based ingredients like blood meal or meat and bone meal may carry microbial contamination. These harmful components can negatively impact animal health. Therefore, careful selection and control of raw materials are necessary. For instance, cottonseed and rapeseed cakes should be sourced from detoxified varieties or used in controlled amounts, and meat and bone meal should not be included in ruminant diets.
**Control of Additives in Formulation**
In addition to meeting the nutritional needs of livestock, feed must comply with national health standards. It is strictly prohibited to use illegal drugs or antibiotics. If drugs are required, only those approved by the state should be used, and they must adhere to specified dosages, withdrawal periods, and usage guidelines. To reduce costs and utilize feed resources more effectively, unconventional ingredients are increasingly being used. However, it is important to ensure their safety, especially if they have potential toxicity.
With advances in biotechnology, genetically modified (GM) crops and their by-products are becoming more common in feed. Examples include high-oil corn, high-lysine corn, low-toxicity rapeseed cake, and high-methionine soybeans. While these ingredients offer benefits, their long-term effects on animal health and product safety remain debated. Therefore, caution is advised when incorporating GM materials into feed formulations.
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