Microbial Contamination and Nutritional Evaluation of Poultry Feeds in Abidjan District Farms

Abstract

This study aims to evaluate the biochemical and microbial quality of poultry feeds  in farms of the Abidjan district. Thus, 164 samples of industrial feeds and farmer-formulated feeds  were  collected   in  Bingerville, Yopougon, Port-Bouet, Anyama and Songon  areas for microbiological and biochemical analysis. The microbiological analysis consisted of isolation and identification of  bacterial and fongical flora  potentially pathogenic for  the animal. The biochemical analysis was aimed to evaluate the nutritional composition of these feeds.  Results showed that among these samples, 15 (10.33%), 91 (55.48%) and 48 (29.26%) were positive  respectively for Salmonella sp., E. coli and  Aspergillus sp. Moreover, biochemical analysis showed low feeds moisture rate levels ranging from 7.52 ± 0.16% to 12.14 ± 0.05%.  Feeds formulated by farmers had low content in ash, protein and lipid with proportions ranging from 4.30 ± 0.15% to 11.61 ± 0.24%, 9.30 ± 0.24% to 15.81 ± 0.20% and 2.07 ± 0.02% to 3.68 ± 0.11% respectively when compared to commercial feeds. In conclusion, the study shows a poor hygienic quality of the feeds used in modern poultry husbandry in the Abidjan district.  However, the content of analyzed feeds content are mostly in conformity with the recommended standards.