Bacteriological quality of commercially prepared and self compounded poultry feeds in Sokoto Metropolis, Sokoto, Nigeria.

ABSTRACT

Evidences arising from epidemiological studies as well as from detailed experimental investigations have indicated that there is strong relationship between certain feed ingredients and incidence of bacterial infections. A total of two hundred and thirty nine (239) Poultry feed samples comprising of two hundred and four (204) commercially prepared feed and thirty five (35) self compounded feed were collected from seventy six (76) identified poultry farms in Sokoto metropolis over a period of 12 months for assessing their microbiological (bacterial) quality. Of the total 80 questionnaires administered, 76 (95.00%) were responded to. Of the respondents, 53 (69.74%) indicated using commercially prepared feed while 23 (30.26%) compounded the feed by themselves. Similarly, 30.57% of the farms visited store their feed either within the poultry pen or in an open space. Out of total (n=239), commercially prepared (n=204) and Self compounded (n=35) feed samples, 217 (90.79%) samples yielded positive bacterial growth. Based on culture and identification, 263 bacterial species/genus were identified which include the following Corynebacterium pyogenes (9; 3.42%), Bacillus subtilis (60; 22.81%), Enterobacter arrogenes (6; 2.28%), Escherichia coli (57; 21.67%), Listeria monocytogenes (19; 7.22%), Coagulase-negative staphylococcus (8; 3.04%), Pasturella multocida (3; 1.14%), Pseudomona aerogenosa (7; 2.66%), Proteus mirabilis (1; 0.38%), Proteus vulgaris (17; 6.46%), Salmonella spp. (10; 3.80%), Staphylococcu aureus (44; 16.73%), Streptococcus pyogenes (17; 6.46%), Yersinia enterocolitica (3; 1.14%) and (2; 0.76%) unidentified bacterial species. The presence of the above bacteria in all the feed samples calls for attention in the storage methods employed by the poultry and other livestock farmers, the warehouse condition, distributors and the sellers. This result could be used as a baseline data in setting public health standard for poultry feeds to achieve food security concern issues.