Presence of constituents of animal origin in feed

Abstract

Feed monitoring for the presence of ingredients of animal origin is performed in order to prevent transmissible spongiform encephalopathies. When it was found that the source of infection was feed, i.e. infectious ruminant protein processed in meat and bone meal (MBM), legislation which prevented these nutrients to enter a food chain was introduced all around Europe. Today in Serbia, as well as in EU, usage of MBM is completely banned for all farm animals. But, until 2011 presence of these nutrients had been officially banned just in the diets for ruminants. Such a partial limitation in Serbia was the reason for more frequent cross contamination of feed for ruminants with prohibited ingredients. Therefore, feed producers were obligated to separate lines for feed for ruminants, or otherwise, not to use MBM and fish meal. Control of such regulations has been carried out by laboratory testing of feed for ruminants, as well as feed for pigs and poultry, for the presence of constituents of animal origin by classical microscopy (Regulation (EC) No 152/2009 Annex VI). The most examined was feed for different categories of cattle. During year 2010 among 162 of these feed samples it was found 3.09% of positives, while the result for 2011 (1.85%) represents an improvement. Comparing the latest results to those from previous years we can conclude that better compliance to European standards is obvious in Serbian feed industry.