Comprehensive microbiological evaluation of dry foods for growing dogs marketed in Poland. Microbiological safety is one of the most important parts of qualitative assessment and monitoring of commercially available products intended for canine nutrition. Twenty commercial dry dog foods formulated for growing dogs were surveyed for the prevalence of bacterial contamination. ISO standards were applied to assess total plate counts of mesophilic strains, yeasts and molds, Enterobacteriaceae family andEnterococcus. Moreover, the presence of major pathogenic bacteria was evaluated. The growth of molds was detected in 5 products. Enterobacteriaceae strains were identified in 12 examined foods. Escherichia coli was identified in 4 samples. Half of the analyzed foods showed apparent presence of enterococci. All analyzed samples were free from Staphylococcus, Salmonella and Listeria spp. contamination. During microscopic confirmation of suspicious colonies Bacillus spp. were identified in 7 products. The results of our pilot study allowed to conclude that the principles of good manufacturing practice and hygienic regime were generally respected during factory processing, resulting ina relative low risk, with a clear necessity for continued control.
The study aimed at evaluation the effect of mannanoligosaccharides (MOS) and zinc-bacitracin (ZnB) administered continuously (+) or intermittently (+/-) upon growing performance, carcass and meat traits, blood profile and tissue morphology of growing rabbits. One hundred and twenty five, 25 days-old rabbits were distributed among 5 groups fed the same basal diet: the control group did not receive any supplements; MOS+ group fed mannanoligosaccarides at 0.083 g/rabbit/day;MOS+/- group fed MOS at the same concentration as MOS+ group, but only two days/week; ZnB+group received Zinc bacitracin at 0.083 g/rabbit/day; ZnB+/- group fed ZnB at the same level as ZnB+ group but only two days/week. The experiment lasted from day 25 to 81 of life. The mortality rate in the control group (36%) was higher (P<0.05) than in MOS+/- (12%) and ZnB+ groups (12%).MOS and ZnB administered intermittently increased (P<0.01) dressing percentage as compared to the control group. The liver percentage increased (P<0.01) due to use of MOS (+ or +/-) and ZnB (+). ZnB (+ or +/-) increased (P<0.05) the protein percentage of meat as compared to the control group, while the continuative administration of MOS was able to reduce (P<0.05) the fat percentage as related to the control group. Both supplements and both administration protocols increased (P<0.01) meat tenderness and water holding capacity in respect to the control group. Continuous ZnB administration had deleterious effects on liver, kidney and ileum morphology. MOS could replace ZnB from weaning to slaughter age of rabbits without negative effects on performance and blood profiles causing no alterations in tissue morphology as compared to the control group. In addition, the MOS can be administered intermittently, reducing the production costs.
A survey of Deoxynivalenol and Zearalenone content in commercial dry foods for growing dogs. The Polish market of commercial dry dog food for growing dogs of small breeds was surveyed for the presence of DON and ZEN with its metabolites α- and β-zearalenol (α-, β-ZOL). LC/ /MS method was applied for 6 randomly selected foods. The low levels of toxins found, gives overall picture of the safe segment of the market. The content of masked α-zearalenol, however, from the perspective of long term consumption of small amounts may pose a health risk for the reproductive system of bitches.
The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of varying levels of whole-grain wheat in the diet (12.5%, 25%, 37.5% and 50%) on the particle size spectra of duodenal digesta and nutrient digestibility in young turkeys. After feeding from 4 to 8 weeks of age, a linear increase in particles larger than 2 mm (P = 0.002) and a linear decrease in particles ranging in size from 1 to 2 mm and smaller than 0.071 mm (P = 0.001; excluding particles ranging in size from 0.106 to 0.071 mm) were noted in the duodenal digesta of turkeys. No differences were observed in the digestibility coefficients of dry matter and crude fibre or in nitrogen retention. Our findings indicate that the inclusion of whole wheat in the diet increased the proportion of coarse particles in the digesta leaving the gizzard, which did not reduce the apparent digestibility of dry matter and crude fibre, or nitrogen retention. Nonetheless, both the weight gain and feed conversion ratio worsened linearly with increasing amounts of whole wheat in the diet (linear contrast P = 0.002 and P = 0.001, respectively)