Abstract

Evidences arising from epidemiological studies as well as from detailed experimental investigations have indicated that there is strong relationship between certain feed ingredients and incidence of fungal infections. Over a 12 month period, a total of two hundred and thirty nine poultry feed samples comprising of two hundred and four commercially prepared and thirty five self compounded feeds were collected from seventy six identified poultry farms in Sokoto metropolis were assessed for their mycological quality. A total of 198 (82.85%) of the samples yielded positive growth for at least one fungal organism which comprises of 163 (79.90%) commercially prepared and 35 (100%) self compounded feeds. The fungi comprises of Aspergillus sp. 136 (49.10%), Penicilliumsp. 51 (18.41%), Rhizopus sp. 37 (13.36%), Fusarium sp. 21 (7.58%) and Mucor sp. 32 (11.55%). The frequency of isolation was observed to be highest in rainy season in which out of total 239, 148 (63.52%) fungal isolates were yielded. The presence of the aforementioned fungi in all the feed samples calls for attention in the storage methods employed by the poultry farmers, livestock feed manufacturers, distributors and the retailers.

Key words: Poultry feeds, mycological quality, fungi, Sokoto.