Publication Database

Bedding and enrichment materials for pigs – a risk for food safety? (2023)

Art

Hochschulschrift

Autor

Koch, Felicitas (WE 4)

Quelle

Berlin, 2023 — XXXVII, 114 Seiten

Sprache

Englisch

Verweise

URL (Volltext): https://refubium.fu-berlin.de/handle/fub188/40982

Kontakt

Institut für Tierernährung

Königin-Luise-Str. 49
14195 Berlin
+49 30 838 52256
tierernaehrung@vetmed.fu-berlin.de

Abstract / Zusammenfassung

Bedding- and enrichment materials are an essential part in pig husbandry to allow animals to perform natural behaviours such as exploration by rooting, biting and chewing under often barren housing conditions. Thus, behavioural disorders such as tail biting can be prevented or reduced. On the other hand, a possible intake of offered materials by pigs cannot be excluded. Legal regulations apply for feedstuffs, setting maximum levels for undesirable substances in animal feed and minimizing the entry of contaminants into the food chain and thus protecting animal health and food safety. However, these regulations do not include bedding and enrichment materials. So far, only few studies investigated the chemical composition of those materials and their consumption by farm animals. The present work aimed at identifying and characterizing the risk of bedding and enrichment materials for animal health of pigs and food safety. To identify possible risk sources, the first study presented, analysed 74 bedding and enrichment materials of the categories disinfectant powder, earth/peat, biochar and recycled manure solids for contaminants and trace elements (Chapter II). In 20% of the samples, levels were found to exceed maximum levels for arsenic, lead and cadmium in mineral and complementary feed. Additionally, some samples showed very high levels of trace elements (iron, copper, zinc). Considering a possible consumption of materials by the animals, a transfer of these substances into the food chain cannot be excluded. These high element levels are relevant for animal health and food safety when animals ingest the materials. Thus, a second, camera-assisted observational study with twelve pigs investigated the animals’ preference for and intake of disinfectant powder, peat, biochar and straw (Chapter III). Two materials were presented at the same time for five consecutive days. All material combinations were tested and the pigs’ preference evaluated on day one and five. Albeit peat and biochar were the most preferred material by pigs (mean manipulation time 50 and 63 min/d versus 39 and 24 min/day for straw and disinfectant powder, respectively; p< 0.05), all materials were manipulated and in part consumed. As prove of material consumption, the internal markers n-alkanes and acid insoluble ash, which naturally occur in the materials earth/peat, straw and disinfectant powder, could be detected in the pigs’ faeces. Thus, these materials may considerably contribute to the daily ration of pigs and, when contaminated with undesirable substances, present a risk to animal and consumer health. To quantify the actual contribution of bedding and enrichment materials to the daily ration of pigs in the context of risk assessment, the third study investigated the voluntary consumption of peat and disinfectant powder during the fattening period of 28 pigs (Chapter IV). As the toxic metals cadmium, arsenic and lead, originating from the materials and used as markers for material consumption, accumulated in the animal tissues of respective control and treatment groups, a mean voluntary consumption of 7% peat and 2% disinfectant powder of the total ration could be determined. Animal-specific material intake estimations revealed maximum intake levels up to 19.7% peat and 3.4% disinfectant powder of the daily ration. These intake levels in combination with high element levels in bedding and enrichment materials can lead to element levels in the feed/material intake by pigs that exceed maximum levels according to feed law regulations and a transfer of undesirable substances into food of animal origin. Estimating the risk of bedding and enrichment materials for animal health and food safety, levels of substances relevant for animal health and food safety and highest material intake levels should be considered in future. Regulations on the composition and placing on the market of bedding and enrichment materials based on feed law regulations may enable bedding and enrichment materials, which are essential for the well-being of farm animals, to be safely used for animals and consumers.