Mould deterioration of feeding‐stuffs in relation to humidity of storage: Part II. The water uptake of feeding‐stuffs at different humidities

Abstract

The water uptake of a wide variety of feeding‐stuffs was determined over a range of fixed humidities. It was shown that the level and shape of the water uptake curves are closely related to the amounts of soluble carbohydrate and protein present. Fibre exerts a depressing effect on the water uptake, while the value is also lowered by the presence of inert fats and non‐hygroscopic ash constituents. These conclusions were confirmed by direct experiments on the water uptake of samples of pure starch, protein and fibre. The results of the investigations have enabled safe limits of moisture content to be laid down, for both short‐ and long‐period storage, below which mould growth will not normally take place. These limits vary for each individual feed, representative figures being included in the paper in tabular form.