Effect of packaging material on the quality of irradiated chicken feed

Effects of packaging material on the quality of irradiated chicken feed. The study was carried out to determine the proper packaging materials to maintain the keeping quality of irradiated chicken feed. Four kinds of packaging materials, namely laminated woven plastic bag, polyethylene film of 0,085 mm thick, laminated cement paper, and plain cement paper were made into puches with size of 15 x 25 cm, filled with 0.5 kg chicken feed and then irradiated with doses of 0.5 and 10 kGy. Samples were kept in ambient temperatures and the examinations were carried out every 2 months from 0 to 6 months of storage on the chemical changes and microbial content. Parameters examined were moisture content, thiobarbituric acid (TBA) value, total microbial count, mould and yeast count, enterobacteraceae, coliformbacteria, and aerobic and anaerobic bacterial spores. The results showed that the four packaging material were able to protect the chicken feed from gaining or loosing moisture, but the TBA values of chicken feed in plain cement paper pouches were lower than those in the three other packaging materials. The four kinds of packaging materials used did not give any meaningful effect on the microbial content of chicken feed, and were able to protect the chicken feed from recontamination during storage. 8 refs