ABSTRACT
The development of the poultry birds depends on the quality of feed, water, breeds, environmental conditions, medication, equipment and the farming practices of the farmer. Among these factors poultry feeds which are food for these animals is most critical, contributing to 60-80% of the economic cost input in the commercial poultry industries. This study was aimed at investigating the bacteriological and proximate quality of poultry feeds sold in Benin City. A total of four different poultry feeds were purchased. Serial dilutions of each samples were prepared and cultured aliquots were inoculated on MacConkey and Eosin Methylene Blue (EMB) agar plates. Enumeration, isolation and identification of bacteria isolates were carried out using cultural, morphological and biochemical characterization. Determination of the proximate qualities (ash, fat, fibre, protein, moisture and carbohydrate) of the samples were carried performed using techniques recommended by the Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC). The total coliform count ranged from 3.00×104 cfu/g to 20.00×104 cfu/g. The faecal coliform count ranged from 0.10×104 cfu/g to 3.00×104 cfu/g. Proximate analysis revealed that ash content ranged 3.69 ± 0.32 – 4.99 ± 0.33%; fat ranged from 11.16 ± 0.72 – 13.91± 0.27 %, fibre ranged from 3.53 ± 0.04 – 8.45± 0.16 %; moisture ranged from 2.70 – 8.60 % and carbohydrate values ranged from 3.65 – 37.83 %. The bacteria isolated from the samples include Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp., Shigella spp., Bacillus spp., Staphylococcus sp., Pseudomonas spp., Enterobacter spp. and Micrococcus spp. The most widely distributed bacteria in the poultry feed samples was Shigella spp. (93.33%) while the least distributed bacteria in the poultry feed samples was Enterobacter spp. (6.66%). The presence of potential pathogenic bacteria in the poultry feed samples calls for concern and the need for adherence of strict hygienic measures in the production, transport and storage of poultry feeds so as to prevent the transmission of harmful bacteria to poultry birds which might cause reduced yield in poultry production.
