Miller Magazine Issue: 150 June 2022

80 COVER STORY MILLER / JUNE 2022 What interventions can support the supply chain’s safety efforts? Selko developed an integrated grain quality approach that starts with a raw material quality program to maintain nutritional value. Conducting a GAP analysis of a feed mill can establish a microbial and moisture blueprint and pro- vide an outside look at critical control points. Testing and properly applied additives can help preserve the quality of stored grain. Sampling across the supply chain allows grain to be checked for components including mould, mycotox- ins, water activity (aW), moisture, pH, and nutrient compo- sition. How long is volatility expected to persist? With so many uncertainties, we cannot predict when conditions will stabilise. This makes efforts to safeguard the grain investment even more essential. Current market con- ditions may make it harder to get high quality grain, poten- tially for the next few years. Integrating interventions from field through processing can mitigate threats to quality. It is pretty clear when we look at grains what the risks are - it’s not just prices, it’s the microbial challenges as well which need an integrated mitigation plan. What studies are evaluating additive-based interventions? A research study evaluated the efficacy of a mould in- hibitor including organic acids and buffered organic ac- ids to extend the shelf life of grains and feed ingredients. Corn stored in high humidity conditions was maintained three ways: left with 12.29% moisture – as it arrived for storage – dried to 11.14% moisture and treated with a mould-prevention additive – Fylax Forte-HC – and dried to 11.87%. Water activity increased by 6.3% between the dried and the dried and treated corn, while the as-is corn had the highest water activity. When checked for mould growth, the undried corn showed the highest levels of mould followed by the dried corn. A drop in mould count between the dried corn and the dried and treated corn, demonstrated that a mould inhibitor can allow stored grains to retain more internal moisture and still have low- er mould growth. There also can be a better return on investment if corn needs to be stored for up to a year. The return varies based on grain’s storage time and water content, but po- tential for improved returns remains even when treated corn has a water level nearing 23%. (Figure 3). Figure 3 – Grain treated with an intervention intended to extend shelf life can see a better return on investment even when stored for up to a year.