The biogenic amines, histamine and tyramine, can cause or aggravate an enteritis problem if they exceed about 100
ppm in the diet. These amines accumulate in spoiling meat and fish by-products. Fishmeal is a common source of
biogenic amines, but excessive levels of biogenic amines rarely occur if the dietary inclusion rate of fish meal is below
5%. Since there is no rapid or inexpensive test for biogenic amines, it is necessary to purchase high quality fish or
animal by-product meals. Be suspicious of protein by-product meals that are much darker in colour than normal, or
which have putrid, sweet, pungent, or ammonia odours. Low quality protein meals (e.g. overcooked meals) are poorly
digested in the foregut and thus pass into the hindgut where they are degraded by proteolytic bacteria (e.g. clostridia,
E. coli, etc.). These proteolytic bacteria produce biogenic amines and other toxic compounds. If possible, feed the
highest quality protein by-product meal in the starter diets.