What factors may be responsible for losses of grains during storage ? Also mention any 2 preventive measures to control loss of grains during storage
Answers
MICROORGANISMS
The best warning of serious weight loss is the presence of a large insect population. This is easily identifiable in sacked grain by the appearance on the sack surface of frass resulting from feeding activity of the insects. High temperature, high humidity, softness, and high nutritive value of the feedstuff and storage in small quantities are all conducive to insect damage, but are often unavoidable. Loss may be aggravated by prolonged storage. Failure to keep the storage area clean and retention of infested sweepings will increase the liability of insect attack.
Micro-organisms are biological contaminants of the natural environment and are present in all feedstuffs. They persist after crops have been harvested from the fields and in animal carcasses prior to rendering. Because bacterial and field fungi do not thrive at moisture levels below 20 percent, post-harvest processing of commodities and animal renderings involving heat, chemical and mechanical extraction, and dehydration eliminate most of the original contaminating microflora. Fungi spores, which are resistant to harsh processing treatment, may remain dormant in the processed feedstuff until more favourable conditions once again permit their proliferation.