Animal Science, School of Environmental and Rural Science, University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia.
Integrity Ag and Environment, New England Highway, Highfields, QLD 4352, Australia.
Poult Sci. 2020 Dec;99(12):6664-6684. doi: 10.1016/j.psj.2020.09.047. Epub 2020 Sep 29.
Bedding material or litter is an important requirement of meat chicken production which can influence bird welfare, health, and food safety. A substantial increase in demand and cost of chicken bedding has stimulated interest in alternative bedding sources worldwide. However, risks arising from the use of alternative bedding materials for raising meat chickens are currently unknown. Organic chemicals, elemental, and biological contaminants, as well as physical and management hazards need to be managed in litter to protect the health of chickens and consequently that of human consumers. This requires access to information on the transfer of contaminants from litter to food to inform risk profiles and assessments to guide litter risk management. In this review, contaminants and hazards of known and potential concern in alternative bedding are described and compared with existing standards for feed. The contaminants considered in this review include organic chemical contaminants (e.g., pesticides), elemental contaminants (e.g., arsenic, cadmium, and lead), biological contaminants (phytotoxins, mycotoxins, and microorganisms), physical hazards, and management hazards. Reference is made to scientific literature for acceptable levels of the above contaminants in chicken feed that can be used for guidance by those involved in selecting and using bedding materials.
垫料或垫料是肉用鸡生产的重要要求，它会影响禽只福利、健康和食品安全。鸡垫料的需求和成本大幅增加，刺激了全球对替代垫料来源的兴趣。然而，目前尚不清楚使用替代垫料来饲养肉用鸡所带来的风险。有机化学物质、元素和生物污染物以及物理和管理危害需要在垫料中加以管理，以保护鸡的健康，从而保护人类消费者的健康。这需要了解从垫料到食物中污染物转移的信息，以制定风险概况和评估，为垫料风险管理提供指导。在本综述中，描述了替代垫料中已知和潜在关注的污染物和危害，并与现行饲料标准进行了比较。本综述中考虑的污染物包括有机化学污染物（如农药）、元素污染物（如砷、镉和铅）、生物污染物（植物毒素、霉菌毒素和微生物）、物理危害和管理危害。本文参考了有关鸡饲料中上述污染物可接受水平的科学文献，为参与选择和使用垫料的人员提供了指导。
