Leading the session were two speakers; Ms Marisabel Caballero, the Global Technical Manager of Poultry, EW Nutrition and Dr Si-Trung Tran, the Regional Technical Manager of Southeast Asia/Pacific, TRM EW Nutrition.
 
Ms Marisabel delivered a presentation under the theme "Challenges in Poultry Production: Focus on Microbial Feed Quality and Gut Health." In her presentation, Ms Marisabel mentioned that the quality of feed ingredients is crucial because, in the feed factory, many factors can cause the feed ingredients to be infected by microbes. Low-quality feed ingredients can carry pathogenic bacteria such as Salmonella, Campylobacter, Enterococcus, and C. Perfringens.

Ms Marisabel also noted that the sources of microbial contamination in feed factories are numerous. Contaminations may occur during/at Grain Entrance, Storage, Balance, Milling, Mixing, Pelleting / Extrusion, Cooler, Riddle, Storage, and Load processes.
 
The Global Technical Manager also added, to prevent the entry of pathogens, it is paramount to ensure the selection of the right supplier, cleaning/disinfection of vehicles from suppliers, dust control, reduction of rat infestation, prevention of contamination from wild birds, and application of additives to maintain material quality.
 
To further reduce microbial growth in plants, it is necessary to reduce and avoid high-risk ingredients (e.g., fish meal, meat meal, and blood-derived products), microbiological monitoring, and GMP. The next step for eliminating pathogens in feed mills is processing the raw materials into a compact form. After all the steps above have been taken, a sanitiser for raw materials and feed will also be required.
 
When a feed is 'free' of pathogens, animals are bound to get benefits such as better nutrition/feed intake, as well as improved health and performance.

The second speaker, Dr Si-Trung Tran, presented the paper entitled "Mycotoxins: A Hidden Menace and A Silent Loss In Profit for Poultry Producers." In his session, Dr Trung described the relative toxicity of mycotoxins in different livestock species. As such, fumonisin, a type of mycotoxin, is highly toxic to swine. For poultry and ruminants, fumonisin is considered to be only mildly toxic. On the contrary, aflatoxin is only mild toxicity for pigs but high toxicity for poultry.

He also spoke about the necessity of deactivating mycotoxins for livestock. For example, Dr Trung said mycotoxins could pose adverse effects on poultry. For example, fumonisin can have immunodepressant effects, gastrointestinal disturbances, high feed conversion ratio, and hepatotoxicity. Dr Trung also added that solutions must include selected active ingredients that could work synergistically to ensure optimal animal performance and welfare under the toxin challenge.

Raymundus Genty Laras, the Head of the Technical Department of PT Behn Meyer Chemicals, also appeared as a moderator in this seminar. According to him, mycotoxins are a problem that must be resolved immediately. Otherwise, it may cause some damage to livestock.
 
Around 30 participants from the feed mill industry and farmers from Jakarta, Bogor, Tangerang, Serang, and Sukabumi attended this event. Through this event, we aim to help feed mills and farmers alike protect and increase profit from their businesses.