Effect of flavomycin on the bacterial association of chilled beef and buffaloes meat

ABSTRACT

Sixteen samples, 8 each of slaughtered Friesian and buffalo, 4 samples from animals fed on 20 mg/day flavomycin [antibiotic used as growth promoter] and the other 4 from the untreated [control]. Samples of each carcass were kept at 0C +/- 1 and examined after 2 hours, 5 days, 10 days, 15 days and 20 days for bacteriological quality [Aerobic plate count, Enterobacteriaceae, Coliforms, Psychrotrophic and Staphylococcus aureus counts]. Analysis of muscle, liver, kidney and intestine for the detection of the presence of flavomycin residues were performed. The obtained results proved that flavomycin has an effect on the initial bacterial count and the bacterial count during the periods of cold storage. It was observed also that the absence of flavomycin in the examined samples may be attributed to the fact that flavomycin is poorly absorbed from the digestive tract. Therefore, it could be concluded that the flavomycin may be safety used as a growth promoter