How should storage conditions for vitamin additives be controlled to prevent potency loss in hot or humid summer environments?
Publish Time: 2025-12-09
In modern poultry farming, vitamin additives, as a core component of compound feed, play an irreplaceable role in maintaining poultry health, promoting growth and development, and improving production performance. However, vitamins are chemically reactive, especially in hot and humid summer environments, where they are prone to oxidation, hydrolysis, or photodegradation, leading to a significant decrease in the potency of active ingredients and consequently affecting the nutritional value of feed and farming efficiency. Therefore, scientifically controlling storage conditions is crucial to ensuring the integrity of vitamin functions.First, temperature is the primary factor affecting vitamin stability. High temperatures accelerate molecular motion, causing vitamins (especially fat-soluble vitamins such as A, D, E, K, and some B vitamins) to undergo thermal decomposition or oxidation reactions. For example, vitamin A is easily converted into inactive derivatives under sustained high temperatures, while vitamin C may rapidly dehydrogenate and become inactive. Therefore, premixes should be stored in a cool, well-ventilated dedicated warehouse, avoiding direct sunlight and away from heat sources such as boilers and drying equipment. Ideally, the storage environment should be kept at a constant temperature. Even if complete temperature control is not possible, drastic fluctuations in temperature between day and night should be avoided as much as possible to reduce condensation.Secondly, humidity control is equally crucial. High humidity not only promotes the absorption of moisture by hygroscopic carriers (such as starch and dicalcium phosphate), but also triggers adverse chemical reactions between vitamins. For example, choline chloride, although an essential nutrient, is highly hygroscopic; if it coexists with vitamins B1 and B6 in a humid environment, it may catalyze their decomposition. The presence of moisture can also activate the catalytic effect of trace metal ions (such as iron and copper), further accelerating the oxidation process. Therefore, warehouses should be equipped with dehumidifiers or use desiccants to ensure that relative humidity is maintained at a low level. At the same time, premixed packaging must be tightly sealed using moisture-proof aluminum foil bags or multi-layer composite films. Once opened, it should be used as soon as possible; any unused portion should be resealed and placed in a dry container.Furthermore, light, especially ultraviolet radiation, is also a significant factor in vitamin degradation. Many vitamins are photosensitive; prolonged exposure to sunlight or strong fluorescent light can lead to structural damage. Therefore, storage areas should use blackout curtains or opaque building materials, and the products themselves should also be packaged in light-proof containers to prevent photochemical reactions from occurring at the source.Furthermore, storage time and the first-in, first-out (FIFO) principle cannot be ignored. Even under good conditions, vitamin activity will slowly decline over time. Therefore, farms or feed mills should plan their purchase quantities rationally to avoid large-scale stockpiling; strictly implement FIFO management to ensure that premixes that enter the warehouse first are used preferentially, minimizing inventory cycles.It is worth mentioning that the application of coating technology provides additional protection for vitamin stability. Modern high-quality premixes often use microencapsulation or fat coating processes to encapsulate sensitive vitamins in a protective layer, effectively isolating them from contact with oxygen, moisture, and metal ions. Although these products are slightly more expensive, they can significantly delay potency loss in hot and humid seasons, making them a worthwhile choice.Finally, the isolation of premixes from other additives is also important. Premixes should be kept away from oxidants, acidic or alkaline chemicals, and high-moisture raw materials (such as fishmeal and whey powder) to prevent cross-contamination or chemical reactions. Independent shelving, clear labeling, and categorized storage are basic requirements for standardized management.In summary, protecting the potency of vitamin additives in the high temperature and humidity environment of summer is a delicate game against time, temperature, humidity, and light. Only through multi-dimensional synergy of temperature control, moisture prevention, light avoidance, airtight sealing, short storage periods, and scientific management can we ensure that every gram of premix retains its proper nutritional vitality when fed, laying a solid foundation for poultry health and efficient production. This is not only a technical issue but also a reflection of the level of refined management in poultry farming.
