Authors : P.E. Zoiopoulos and P.I. Natskoulis
Abstract: Various parameters were assessed in samples of 2 rice mill by-products, namely broken rice and rice bran, taken from 4 rice mill establishments in Western Greece, for their characterization as feed ingredients. The analyses (152 in total), based on European Union (EU) methods, included determination of major nutrients, ash insoluble in HCl, trace elements, heavy metals, aflatoxin B1 and microbial load. Mean values of crude protein (152), crude fibre (70.3), ash (82.7) and especially fat (155 g kg -1 on dry matter basis), revealed that the assumed rice bran was not actually a brown or white bran, but rice pollards, i.e. a mixture of bran and polishing. Presence of Pb, Cd and aflatoxin B1was not detected in any of the broken rice or bran samples. Average values for enumeration of total bacterial counts were 4.65 and 5.67: whereas that of yeasts/moulds were 2.73 and 4.13 log cfu g -1for broken rice and bran, respectively, being below permitted levels for broken rice, but raising concern about storage of rice bran. Information from this study aims at contributing to measures taken by the State to cope with EU legislation on food and feed safety, developing traceability procedures and establishing HACCP system as well as GMP programme for Greece and elsewhere.
P.E. Zoiopoulos and P.I. Natskoulis , 2008. Quality Assessment of Rice Industry By-Products as Ingredients of Animal Diets Based on Nutrient Content, Undesirable Substances and Hygienic Parameters. Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances, 7: 1-4.