Details of Our Microscopical Examination Analysis Salamon & Seaber

Microscopical Examination

Microscopy is used to help establish what a particular material is, or what it contains if it is a mixture of substances. The technique is particularly used by Salamon & Seaber when examining the bulk commodities (e.g. soya bean meal) which are incorporated in animal feeding stuffs, to establish whether there is any admixture present (e.g. matter foreign to the particular commodity being tested). It is also used to investigate for the presence of insects or insect fragments and other foreign bodies found in food or animal feed after storage, or by a consumer.

Microscopical analysis can be used for the detection of botanical undesirable substances, e.g, poisonous seeds, determination of the type of contamination, foreign body investigation, detection and investigation of moulds such as Ergot (see below).

In addition to microscopy analysis Salamon & Seaber also undertake comprehensive analysis of biological stains.

Ergot Analysis

Ergot refers to fungi of the genus Claviceps especially Claviceps purpurea, but also C. fusiformis, C. paspali and C. africana. Species of this genus of fungus grow on various types of grasses and cereals such as rye, pearl millet, sorghum, triticale, wheat, barley, and, rarely, oats.

The ripening ergot fungus contains the alkaloid ergotamine and other alkaloids of the ergoline group. These alkaloids have a wide range of biological activities including hallucinations and attendant irrational behaviour, convulsions, and even death.

Ergot infection causes a reduction in the yield and quality of grain and hay produced, and if infected grain or hay is fed to livestock it may cause a disease called ergotism.

Please contact Mr Michael Blotz (E-Mail: Blotz@salamonandseaber.co.uk) for further information or fill out a form for a quotation.

Please note that we are also able to correspond in Arabic, French, German, and Polish

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