title: Studies of the fungistatic activity of antifungal compounds in mash and pelleted feeds.
abstract: The effect of calcium propionate (CP) and Agrosil (AG) as mold inhibitors in wetted mash and pelleted feed was studied using both commercial cattle and poultry rations. Number of fungal colonies isolated after pelleting was markedly reduced; however, wetting the pellets accelerated the build-up of inoculum and resulted in spoilage. The addition of CP (.3%) to the cattle ration before pelleting prevented mold proliferation during one month of storage while the number of fungal colonies counted in pellets treated with AG (.15%) markedly increased over that period. However, AG had a longer fungistatic effect than CP in preserving the mash diet. Both materials, applied at .2%, were ineffective in preserving wet pelleted poultry feed. After 17 days of storage, feed treated with either of the agents was visibly moldy. In all cases, an increase in mold population was concomitant with elevated carbon dioxide concentrations, which indicated the sensitivity of this parameter for measuring fungal activity. Fat content of the diets remained unchanged during the storage period in spite of increased fungal activity.
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002417:Cattle; D005527:Food, Fortified; D005658:Fungi / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D005659:Fungicides, Industrial / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009930:Organic Chemicals; D011200:Poultry; D011422:Propionates / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D005659:Fungicides, Industrial; D009930:Organic Chemicals; D011422:Propionates; C046047:agrosil; C514136:calcium propionate; C029658:propionic acid