Bacteriological Quality of Ready-Mixed Mink Feed in Finland

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Abstract
Frozen samples of Finnish ready-mixed mink feed were analyzed for total bacterial count, the number of faecal streptococci, the coliform count, the number of haemolytic bacteria and the number of sulphite-reducing bacteria. The investigation comprised 242 feed samples from 38 central kitchens and larger private farm kitchens, the combined feed production of which is about 85 % of the yearly feed production of Finland. Of all samples 48.3 % had a total bacterial count of 106 … 6} × 106 bacteria per g of feed. The total bacterial count was relatively constant during the first four production periods of the year (December-August) and was elevated during the last period (September-November). The percentage of samples containing less than 2.5 × 104 faecal streptococci per g of feed was 49.8 %; 62 % of the samples contained less than 2.5 × 104 coliform bacteria per g. The content of coliform bacteria was lowest during the third production period (May); 48.5 % of the samples contained 5 × 103 … 105 haemolytic bacteria per g, and 4.6 % were negative. The content of haemolytic bacteria was relatively constant during the whole production year; 52.6 % of the feed samples contained 5 × 103 … 105 sulphite-reducing bacteria per g, and 17.2 % were negative. The mean content of sulphite-reducing bacteria was lowest during the second production period (March-April). The results are discussed and compared with corresponding results from Norway and Denmark.