Evaluating Physical and Chemical Quality of Corn Kernel as Poultry Feed Ingredient in the Procurement of Feed Mill Raw Material

This study evaluates the physical and chemical quality of corn kernels supplied to a feed mill in South Sulawesi, Indonesia, focusing on identifying key parameters affecting feed safety and quality.A total of 1,781 corn batches were analyzed for physical quality parameters, including moisture content (Mc), damaged kernels (Dk), moldy kernels (Mk), broken kernels (Bk), and foreign materials (Fm), based on SNI-8926 2020 standards.Chemical quality was assessed through proximate analysis of 60 randomly selected samples, measuring ash content, crude protein, crude fat, crude fiber, calcium (Ca), and phosphorus (P).Descriptive analysis showed an average Mc of 26.55.42%,Dk 1.020.63%,Mk 1.781.17%,Bk 1.120.44%,and Fm 0.860.29%.Chemical parameters exhibited significant variability, with crude fat and ash content showing the widest ranges.High moisture content, which frequently exceeded SNI thresholds, emerged as the primary challenge, creating conditions conducive to mold growth and increasing the risk of mycotoxin contamination.While most physical quality indicators, such as Dk, Fm, and Bk, largely met premium and medium-grade standards, Mc variability was a critical concern.This study highlights the need for improved drying and handling practices to mitigate moisture-related issues in corn quality.Based on a single feed mill in South Sulawesi, the findings provide insights into regional corn quality challenges and underscore the importance of stricter adherence to quality standards to ensure feed safety and integrity.