Safety and traceability of animal feed
bookPart
Feedstuffs play an important role in maintaining the health of production animals and therefore of humans. In relation to food safety, the slogan `healthy animals, healthy humans' is often used to demonstrate the clear relationship that exists between the health status of animals and that of human beings. Experience has shown that the transmission of diseases from domestic animals to man can be prevented effectively only by improving the health care of the animals themselves. It is even more of a challenge to prevent the transmission of zoonotic agents because, as the human population has increased, there has been a concomitant increase in the number of production animals. Factors involved in disease control include the availability of safe feedstuffs, husbandry practices, immunisation and the use of antimicrobials and other veterinary drugs. Strategies that have been explored to control foodborne human pathogens include the administration of selected microbial cultures to piglets and day-old chicks in order to establish a balanced gut microflora and increase colonisation resistance. In the case of ruminants, attempts have been made to reduce carriage of Escherichia coli O157 by using special dietary formulations. However, neither of these approaches to gut flora manipulation has been entirely successful.
TNO Identifier
954418
ISBN
9781855735262
Publisher
CRC
Source title
Food Authenticity and Traceability
Editor(s)
Lees, M.
Place of publication
Boca Raton
Pages
518-553
Files
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