Z-I.3. Laboratory for Animal Feed Microbiology

The Laboratory is a part of the Veterinary Public Health Department involved in the protection of human health through animal feed control services and thereby directly and indirectly involved in animal welfare and environment protection.
Since 1976, the Laboratory has been conducting analyses related to animal feeding issues. Control of animal feed safety has a significant impact on general animal health condition, particularly as an aid in the diagnostics and treatment of diseases. Test results provide insight into the condition of animal feed in all segments of animal feed pathology, which leads to appropriate prophylaxis related to inadequate feeding.

The Laboratory conducts the following tests:
·    Bacteriological and mycological test of animal feed raw materials and mixtures in the production, trade, imports and exports;
·    Microscopic test on presence of tissue of warm-blooded animals;
·    Haematological and biochemical tests.

·    An increased number of saprophyte bacteria and moulds may impair animal health. Also, the bacteriological test is used to protect animals from pathogenic bacteria: Salmonellae, Listeria, Clostridium, Streptococcus, Staphylococcus and other, which may be found in animal feeding stuffs or mixtures or are spreading in such way.
·    As regards the transmissive spongiform encephalopathies, we use a method for detection of presence of animal tissues originating from warm-blooded animals in animal feeding stuffs and mixtures by use of microscopy and tests for detection of meat and bone meal originating from ruminants, other products originating from ruminants and bovine DNA in animal feed and mixtures.
·    Haematological and biochemical tests are conducted in the Laboratory in order to determine the metabolic status of animals.

Based on the test results and additional chemical values and hazardous substances, the animal feeds and mixtures are evaluated through the issue of an opinion on their adequacy for animal nutrition.

The Laboratory conducts tests of samples provided within the scope of the Program of Animal Feed Monitoring in order to determine the compliance of animal feed with the animal feed hygiene and safety requirements. The results provide us with a general view of the implementation of animal feed regulations.
The accreditation procedure currently includes two accredited methods, expanded by another method in the course of the Croatian Accreditation Agency audit in 2011. The Laboratory is accredited for a method of detection of moulds (ISO 21527-2:2008 Microbiology of food and animal feeding stuffs – Colony count technique of yeasts and moulds in products with water activity less than or equal to 0.95), as well as Salmonella detection method HRN EN ISO 6579:2003 Horizontal method for detection of Salmonella spp. (ISO 6579:2002/Cor 1:2004; EN ISO 6579:2002). In 2011, the Croatian Accreditation Agency conducted an audit that was successful and we are expecting the expansion of accreditation for determination of animal tissue parts as integral parts of animal feed and mixtures.