Feed Analysis and Quality Control

Animal Husbandry is the rearing of farm animals for their produce. Agriculture is the backbone of India, and in such a country, cattle and animal rearing is common as agriculture always accompanies animals associated with it. Feed was never a problem when agricultural lands were more. With urbanization at the forefront, pasture lands are reducing. Thus the demand for feed is increasing. An appropriate animal feed should contain all the necessary ingredients with the correct nutritional value. It has developed the need for feed analysis and quality control with people involved in feed manufacturing.

Types of Feed Manufacturers in India 

• Feed manufacturers in India are of three types: 1. House-mixers, 2. Dairy Cooperatives, and 3. the private manufacturers. 
•  According to a study, the house mixers or the unorganized sector amounts to 33%, the dairy cooperatives amount to 42%, and the private feed manufacturers amount to 25%.
• It is challenging to keep quality control in India, with many people involved in the unorganized sector.
• If only the quality feed is not in circulation, the productivity of animals naturally decreases.
• The feed quality is essential for producing a good quantity of animal products.

Feed Analysis

• Feed analysis means feed evaluation or identifying the type of ingredient, the composition of the mixture, and their nutritional value.
• It is essential because the feed of correct nutritional value is given to the animals, the yield of animal products will increase.
• The mixture of ingredients is called a compound feed. 
• Poultry and cattle feed has a category of compound feed called oilseed cakes. Oilseed cakes contain mustard, groundnut, soybean, sunflower, sesame, and lin. 
• Feed analysis evaluates the amount of each ingredient needed to produce the best oilseed cakes of high nutritional value.

Quality Control of Animal Feed

• Feed analysis and quality control go hand in hand. It is essential for the production of high-quality nutritional animal feed.
• It is essential to do quality control on both ends. One upon receiving the raw materials, and two, after the product manufacturing.
• Because the quality of the raw materials is high, the finished product will be of the same quality in terms of materials used. On the contrary, if the raw materials have adulterations, the finished product will be a hiccup. 
•  The Bureau of Indian Standards(BIS) regulates quality control in India.

Methods of Feed analysis and Quality Control

• The BIS has set up a committee called the Animal Feeds sectional committee; for feed analysis and quality control of the animal feed.
• Feed Analysis means the feed ingredients undergo a physical evaluation of colour, texture, odour, taste, particle size, adulteration damage, storage pests, etc.
• Then it undergoes a chemical evaluation for a quality check for moisture, insoluble ash, salts, free fatty acids, etc.
•  For feed analysis and quality control, BIS has set the standards. For example, In mycotoxin presence, UV screening shows a greenish-yellow fluorescence.

Physical Evaluation Methods 

Some of the Physical Evaluation Methods Are

•  Colour: The quality of the ingredient shows in its colour. Any colour change indicates the presence of toxins, maturity of grain, etc.
• Homogeneity: It reveals the presence of adulteration elements. Ingredients of quality are homogenous.
• Smell: Smell can help identify the decomposition of items. Musty odour indicates the onset of fungal contamination.
• Taste: Ingredients have their unique taste. Any bitterness in the taste of soya, sunflower oil meal, or grains can indicate the presence of mycotoxins. Taste helps in the identification of salt as well.

Chemical Evaluation Methods

Some of the Chemical Evaluation Methods are

• Detection of mahua cake: Adding concentrated Sulphuric acid to a sample of the animal feed helps identify the presence of Mahua cake. The change in colour from violet or pink indicates its presence.

• Detection of argemone seeds: The addition of concentrated Nitric Acid to a sample of the animal feed helps identify the presence of argemone seeds. The sample turns brownish red if there is a presence of argemone seeds in it.

• There are many other procedures for detecting salt, linseed meal, etc.

Methods to improve the quality of feed: 

• By the methods of feed analysis and quality control, the selection of raw materials is the foremost step.
• The quality of the feed improves with the fortification of the animal feed with supplements like amino acids, vitamins, etc.,
• Formulation of feed mix with additives such as enzymes to make the feed have all the essential nutrients for the growth and health of the animals.
• Keeping a routine check on the feed helps keep the feed from external parasitic interventions.
• Following the nutritional standards of BIS can help improve the quality of feed.

Conclusion

• The feed analysis and quality control help improve the quality of feed in India.
• The animal husbandry industry benefits from the set up of BIS, as the standards of animal feed set by them are of international level. 
• The improvement in feed quality proportionately affects the yield quality.
• Feed quality improvisation increases milk production in cattle, egg-laying capacity enhances in the chickens, and meat quality and quantity improves in poultry.
• It is a way forward for India to increase its import of animal products. 
• Thus, animal husbandry can increase its share in GDP contribution.