EN
The aim of the study was the microbiological quality assessment of feed materials produced and used in animal feeding in Poland. Examinations were conducted in all regional laboratories dealing with animal feedstuff testing. Prevalence of Salmonella sp. and Clostridium sp. were assessed, as well as mesophilic aerobic bacteria, Enterobacteriaceae and fungi counts. The following materials were examined: 9 389 samples in the year 2003, 5 716 samples in 2004, 4 490 samples in 2005 and 6 905 samples feed materials in 2006. Assays were done following Polish standards harmonized with European standards and/or international (ISO) standards. Most often Salmonella sp. were detected in extracted oil seed meal samples, and the percentage of positive samples, depending on the examined materials, ranged from 1.5 to 7.7. The number of Enterobacteriaceae in most of the examined meat and bone meal samples did not exceed 10 cfu/g, and in oil seed meals 100 cfu/g. The highest level of contamination by Enterobacteriaceae confirmed in plant feed materials reached the level 10⁴ cfu/g. The most often confirmed level of contamination by aerobic bacteria ranged from 10² to 10⁶ cfu/g. In the mycological studies performed more than 10⁵ fungi per gram were detected in 0.8% of oil seed meal samples and more than 2% of cereal samples. The highest level of contamination by aerobic bacteria and fungi were detected in the cereal samples examined. Most examined feed material samples showed Clostridium sp. presence in titre from 0.01 to less than 0.1. Clostridium species occurred in meat and bone meal samples more often than in oil seed meal and cereal samples. The results obtained indicate an urgent need for the verification of previous microbiological criteria established for feed materials.