⠀ Why is Aspergillosis added to chicken food?

[Silver Snark]

Why is Aspergillosis added to chicken food? This is a fungus that cats can get and people can get.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I've never seen it on an ingredient list. Where did you see that?
Some yeasts are added as probiotics but Aspergillosis isn't. It can be in feed that has gotten damp but isn't added to feed.

 

[junebuggena]

It's not.
Did you mean Amprolium? This is a thiamine blocker that prevents coccidia protozoa from developing in the gut, so that chickens can develop a resistance to the coccidia without becoming seriously ill. It's what is in most medicated chick feeds.

 

[sourland]

Aspergillus is a mold contaminant of grain that may inadvertently end up in feed. It is not added to feed as chickens as well as all birds can develop aspergillosis or 'brooder pneumonia'.

 

[MorganC]

My guess would be that it is either an additive or a contamination issue. If the feed is medicated then I could see where they would try to add it to the feed as a preventative measure, like a vaccine. However, this is not a common vaccine in medicated poultry feeds (I have never seen it listed) so I'm not sure as to why it would even NEED to be in there. I'm leaning more towards an unnecessary additive.....

 

[DrPatrickBiggs]

Aspergillus is a fungus, and it is used quite often in livestock feed. It is often used as a source of phytase - an enzyme that breaks down anti-nutritional factors in the feed to provide more nutrients to the animal. This means less undigested feed - aka manure - coming out of the animal. It is true that aspergillosis is caused by Aspergillus, but not all Aspergillus is harmful. In the case of the phytase, only the phytase is added to the feed. The ingredient listing says dried fermentation extract of Aspergillus oryzae because that is where the phytase comes from.

 

[minmin1258]

I have attempted to do fermented feed for my 32 chickens, seven ducks and three turkeys. I had been using a different brand of feed with excellent results but my local farm store ran out and saw Purina brand. Knowing the good products that Purina has I purchased several bags (as usual) and brought it home. My problem is it won't ferment as well as other feed I had bn using. Is there something in your feeds that halt that process. (If you've already gone over this please excuse my question I just joined this conversation)

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Good explanation. It can be confusing reading the ingredient label. Many of the things that one can't pronounce or sources of stabilized vitamins or trace minerals.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I too have trouble fermenting any of the crumbled or pelleted feed, regardless of the manufacturer. I get the best results from a coarsely ground organic feed.

 

[MorganC]

You SHOULD get better fermentation results with organic feeds with the most pure ingredients, i.e. closer to normal.