Mycotoxin Detection in Silage Feed

Mycotoxin Presence in Silage Feeds

Silage feed, especially corn silage, is one of the feeds used worldwide in cow nutrition. Mycotoxins can be formed before the forage is harvested, during storage and during feeding.

Consumption of feeds containing mycotoxins by farm animals jeopardizes animal performance and indirectly human health. Through the silage feeds that ruminant animals eat; It is exposed to mycotoxins such as aflatoxins, trichothecenes, ochratoxin A, fumonisins, zearalenone and many other secondary fungal metabolites.

Problems with mycotoxins in silage can be minimized by preventing fungal growth before and after contamination. Proper silage management is essential to reduce the formation of mycotoxins and some mold inhibiting chemical additives or microbial inoculants in dairy cows feeds. Several release agents can also be added to feeds to reduce mycotoxin levels, but their effectiveness varies according to the type and level of mycotoxin formation.

Due to its damages, mycotoxin detection in silage feed is one of the important test parameters.

The most common mycotoxins in feed include aflatoxin B1, deoxynivalenol (DON), zearalenone (ZEN), T-2 toxin, and fumonicin. These mycotoxins are mainly produced by molds:

Aspergillus
requiring hot, humid conditions • Penicillium requiring humid, damp, cooler conditions,
Fusarium that requires humid, humid, cooler conditions

When fed with animals, mycotoxins can cause:

• Reduced feed intake
• Low milk production
• Reproductive problems
• Death

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