[h=1]Researcher: There?s probably no safe level of mycotoxins in feed[/h]
Because stress and illness can make animals more susceptible, the impact of the same mycotoxin levels may vary between farms.
Release Date: 2014-11-13
By Terrence O'Keefe
Dr. Thomas Scott, research chair in feed processing technology, Department of Animal and Poultry Science, University of Saskatchewan, said that mycotoxin contamination of portions of the wheat crop in Canada this year is a problem, particularly fusarium and ergot contamination...
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Scott said that the practice of mixing mycotoxin-contaminated grain with relatively mycotoxin-free grain is not a good solution. He also said that the test and reject approach to handling incoming ingredients isn?t the solution either, because the contamination frequently isn?t evenly distributed throughout the load of grain and it is easy to miss hot spots when sampling a truck, rail car or barge of grain. He said, you can?t find everything, and asked, ?what happens to the contaminated feed that is rejected?? Another point that Scott made to bolster his point was that mycotoxin contamination can occur in storage in the grain silo or feed mill after purchase, and it doesn?t just happen on the farm. ?Mycotoxins can occur pre-harvest, post-harvest and can get concentrated in storage,? he said....
