Texas Feed and Fertilizer Control Service

2022 Commerical  Feed Annual Report

Feed Laboratory Findings



Application of Analytical Variances to Laboratory Findings on Feed Samples

When a feed sample is analyzed in the laboratory of the State Chemist, the findings show the samples either meeting or falling outside of label guarantee. Where the findings fall outside guarantee, the sample is not automatically classified as being violative under the law, however. A variance factor is applied to the laboratory results before making such a determination. The factor attempts to account for error which could have been made during sampling and analysis of the product. Only when the laboratory finding falls outside the value provided by applying the variance factor to the guarantee is the sample considered in violation. The variance factor is not a tolerance, in that it is applied only to individual samples. If a pattern of falling only slightly within the variance factor, but below guarantee is established over multiple samples, this indicates a manufacturer problem and such would be called to his attention for correction.

It is known that even with the use of accepted good manufacturing practices, occasional failure to meet label guarantees upon application of the appropriate variance factor to laboratory data will be seen in those feeds which are acquired for analysis. While each of such instances will be called to the manufacturers attention, through issuance of reports, this office seeks in its sampling program to establish confidence that manufacturers have reasonable controls in place to assure an ongoing conformance of products to label guarantees in a high percentage of samples acquired. When this is not evident, regulatory procedures will be invoked.

The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) has for many years recommended a set of analytical variances to be applied to laboratory results on feeds. These variances were arrived at through the AAFCO monthly laboratory check sample program and are scientifically based, having been established from evaluation of thousands of laboratory analyses for each guarantee. Texas did not actively use the AAFCO variances prior to September 1, 1986, although notice was provided in the 1974-75 annual report on commercial feed that, subsequent to that time, these variances would be employed.

Use of the AAFCO variances was put into effect in Texas on September 1, 1986 after first comparing them on several sets of laboratory data with the variances previously employed by the Feed and Fertilizer Control Service. The variances on some guarantees were made less stringent under the AAFCO system, others more so. On balance, however, there appeared to be no effect on violation rate by making the change to the AAFCO system.

Upon accumulation of the year-end information (FY 87), however, it became evident that so-called "minor violations" had increased by 12%, most notably in protein and vitamin A guarantees, both of which have smaller allowable variances under the AAFCO system. Since approximately 90% of all feed samples are analyzed for protein and a very large number are also assayed for vitamin A content, the weight of values from these analyses tended to shape the overall system and made it appear to have tighter variances overall.

Since this effect was not anticipated and so as to be fair to all concerned, the AAFCO variances for protein and vitamin A were suspended for a period of two years (until September 1, 1989) to provide the industry with sufficient time to become familiar with and prepared for that period. During this period, the previous Control Service variances for protein and vitamin A were left in place. All other AAFCO variances are in use. Copies of these variance may be obtained from the Control Service or the current official publication of the AAFCO.




Analytical Record for Individual Component Guarantees of Sampled Feed



Drugs/Antibiotics
Analyte NameTotalNon ViolativeViolativePercent Violative
AMPROLIUM0000.0
BACITRACIN METHYLENE DISAL.0000.0
BACITRACIN ZINC0000.0
CHLORTETRACYCLINE3300.0
DECOQUINATE55441120.0
ETHOPABATE0000.0
LASALOCID SODIUM2821725.0
MONENSIN5650610.7
NEOMYCIN BASE,0000.0
NITARSONE0000.0
OXYTETRACYCLINE0000.0
SULFAMETHAZINE0000.0
TYLOSIN0000.0


General
Analyte NameTotalNon ViolativeViolativePercent Violative
ACID DETERGENT FIBER0000.0
ASH0000.0
CRUDE FAT404000.0
CRUDE FIBER0000.0
CRUDE PROTEIN309428262688.7
LYSINE0000.0
METHIONINE0000.0
MICROSCOPY3933615.4
MOISTURE0000.0
NPN (NON-PROTEIN NITROGEN)7700.0
TOTAL NITROGEN1100.0
VITAMIN D NO RPT0000.0


Minerals
Analyte NameTotalNon ViolativeViolativePercent Violative
AMMONIUM CHLORIDE AS NPN0000.0
BORON0000.0
CALCIUM1028932969.3
CHLORINE0000.0
COPPER (nutrient)989088.2
IRON4400.0
MAGNESIUM605646.7
MANGANESE7700.0
PHOSPHATE, AVAILABLE0000.0
PHOSPHORUS244228166.6
POTASSIUM22822620.9
SALT72601216.7
SELENIUM (nutrient)0000.0
SODIUM2200.0
SOLUBLE POTASH0000.0
SULPHUR IN FERTILIZER0000.0
ZINC494548.2


Mycotoxins
Analyte NameTotalNon ViolativeViolativePercent Violative
AFLATOXIN703674294.1
FUMONISIN46946361.3
FUMONISIN B10000.0


Vitamins