Controlling the temperature and humidity of the storage environment is the basis for preventing compound premix feed for sows from deteriorating. The ideal storage temperature should be maintained at 10-20℃. When the temperature exceeds 25℃, the vitamins in the feed (such as vitamin A and E) will accelerate oxidation, and the monthly loss rate can reach 5%-10%; the humidity must be controlled below 60%. Too high humidity will cause the feed to absorb moisture and clump, providing conditions for mold growth. A temperature and humidity recorder can be installed in the warehouse to monitor the data in real time. When the humidity exceeds the standard, the dehumidifier is started. If the temperature is too high, ventilation or air conditioning is used to adjust. The warehouse should avoid low-lying and humid areas, and moisture-proof mats should be laid on the ground, and the feed tray should be raised by 15-20cm to prevent ground moisture from penetrating into the bottom of the feed bag.
The sealing protection of the packaging is essential to prevent nutrient loss. The integrity of the unopened compound premix feed for sows packaging bag needs to be checked to ensure that there is no damage or loose seal. If a small hole is found in the packaging, it needs to be repaired immediately with sealing tape or transferred to a sealed barrel. After opening the feed, the bag mouth should be clamped with a special sealing clamp. The clamp mouth should cover the entire width of the bag mouth to form a tight seal. Clamp it again after each use to reduce the contact area with the air. For large packages of feed, it can be divided into small bags of 5-10kg, and the remaining part should be used up as soon as possible to avoid oxidation of nutrients caused by repeated opening, especially premixes containing trace elements such as selenium and iodine, which are prone to chemical reactions after contact with air, affecting activity.
Reasonable stacking methods can improve storage safety. The height of the feed stack should not exceed 4 layers, the distance between the stacks should be kept above 30cm, and the distance from the wall should be not less than 50cm to ensure air circulation and reduce local humid and stuffy areas. When stacking, sort by production date, follow the "first in, first out" principle, and avoid long-term backlog of old materials. Wooden pallets should be used at the bottom of the stack, and a 10cm gap should be left between the pallets to facilitate ventilation and heat dissipation. It is forbidden to stack feed directly on the cement floor. If a bag of feed is found to be agglomerated, it must be immediately removed from the stack, placed separately and used as soon as possible to prevent the moisture released by the agglomerated feed from affecting the surrounding feed.
Regular cleaning of the storage environment can reduce the risk of mold contamination. The warehouse needs to be cleaned once a week to remove the scattered feed debris and dust on the ground. These impurities are easy to absorb moisture and mold, becoming the source of mold growth. Wipe the shelves and pallets with a dry cloth every month to avoid oil or water droplets. If the pallet is found to have traces of mold, it needs to be wiped and disinfected with a chlorine-containing disinfectant and dried before use. A shoe-changing area and disinfection mat are set up at the entrance of the warehouse. People entering need to change into clean shoes to prevent bringing in mold spores from the outside. At the same time, it is forbidden to store other items that are prone to mold (such as grain and sundries) in the warehouse to avoid cross contamination.
Adding mildew inhibitors and antioxidants can enhance the anti-deterioration ability of feed. When purchasing compound premix feed for sows, you can give priority to products with added calcium propionate (addition amount 0.1%-0.3%) or potassium sorbate. These antifungal agents can inhibit the synthesis of mold cell walls and extend the shelf life. For feeds that are stored for more than 1 month, 1-2 small packets of food-grade desiccant (such as silica gel desiccant) can be placed in each bag. The desiccant needs to be wrapped in a breathable cloth bag to avoid direct contact with the feed. At the same time, antioxidants in the feed (such as ethoxyquin) can protect fats and vitamins. If the feed is found to have a slight rancid smell during storage, it means that the antioxidant has expired and needs to be used faster or a small amount of vitamin C needs to be added to supplement the antioxidant capacity.
Strict storage cycle management can reduce the natural loss of nutrients. The best use period of compound premix feed for sows is within 3 months after production. Even if the appearance of feeds that are more than 6 months old does not change, the nutritional activity will drop significantly, such as the folic acid content may drop by more than 30%. The production date and expiration date must be marked on the feed bag, and an early warning mechanism must be set up. Feed that is 1 month away from expiration must be stored separately and used first. For opened feed, it must be used up within 7 days in summer and no more than 15 days in winter to avoid nutritional loss caused by long-term storage. Observe the color and smell of the feed before each use. If it turns black, sour or moldy, immediately discard the entire bag and do not use it for feeding.
Emergency protection measures for special weather are essential. During the rainy season or continuous rainy weather, the frequency of warehouse inspections must be increased. Check whether the feed bags absorb moisture every day. If condensed water droplets are found on the bag surface, wipe it dry with a dry cloth and cover the bag with a waterproof plastic bag. Before heavy rain, the doors and windows of the warehouse must be reinforced to prevent rainwater leakage. If water enters the warehouse, the feed must be immediately transferred to a dry area, the bag must be opened to check whether the inside is damp, and after the damp part is picked out, the remaining dry feed must be spread out in a cool and ventilated place to dry (no exposure to the sun to prevent vitamin decomposition), and used as soon as possible after drying. When storing in winter, avoid piling feed near heaters or stoves to prevent local high temperatures from accelerating the loss of nutrients. A thermometer can be placed in the corner of the warehouse to monitor temperature changes near the heat source.
