It has become more clear over time that feed ingredients and complete feed can present a biosecurity risk. Prevention of contamination is obviously important, but it can be a daunting task because there are many critical control points. Another approach to feed biosecurity involves the deactivation of pathogens in feed through the use of heat, feed additives, or even irradiation. Techniques such as irradiation can have a negative effect on feed ingredients such as enzymes or vitamins.
Another approach is to extend storage times of feed and feed ingredients. The use of extended feed storage times can increase the potential for unintended consequences such as reduced palatability, degradation of nutrients, increases in mycotoxins, or increased microbial contamination.
These researchers wanted to validate the use of extended storage times for complete swine feed for the inactivation of several swine viruses. In this study, complete feed was inoculated with 10mL of 1×10^5 TCID50/mL of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV), and Senecavirus A (SVA). Feed was stored for 58 days at 23.9°C in either an environmentally controlled container or in a container with ambient temperature consistent with fall climate changes in the Midwest US.
Measures of feed quality were also evaluated at the initiation and conclusion of the storage period. This included screening for mycotoxins, characterization of select microbiological measures, and evaluating the stability of phytase and dietary vitamins.
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