RAPID ASSESSMENT OF POULTRY FEED MICROBIAL QUALITY USING POLYMERASE CHAIN REACTION DETECTION OF MICROBIAL RIBOSOMAL GENE SEQUENCES

Rapid assessment of microbial quality in poultry feeds is critical for detection of specific pathogens and to directly evaluate the effectiveness of potential antimicrobial compounds. This requires methodology that is not only rapid and sensitive but also representative of the diverse microflora present on poultry feeds. The objective of this study was to examine a PCR-based assay using conserved 16S rRNA ribosomal sequences to evaluate microbial quality in naturally contaminated poultry feed samples. When examined on gel electrophoresis, PCR assays yielded visible bands detectable in at least 1 replicate from 6 out of 8 poultry feed samples. Further methodology improvement may yield a consistent method for rapid determination of feed microbial diversity and feed quality assessment as a function of specific feed and feed ingredient microbial profiles.