Mycotoxin contamination of diets for beef cattle finishing in feedlot

Author(s)

Custodio, Leticia ; Prados, Laura Franco ; Yiannikouris, Alexandros ; Holder, Vaughn ; Pettigrew, James ; Kuritza, Leandro ; de Resende, Flavio Dutra ; Siqueira, Gustavo Rezende

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: REVISTA BRASILEIRA DE ZOOTECNIA-BRAZILIAN JOURNAL OF ANIMAL SCIENCE; v. 48, p. 12-pg., 2019-01-01.

Abstract

The objective of this survey was to identify what mycotoxins were present in ingredients used in diets offered to beef cattle in feedlots and their concentrations. The survey covered 30 Brazilian feedlots located in the five major beef-producing states. Samples of total mixed ration (TMR) and ingredients were collected and analyzed for mycotoxin using ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry. Mycotoxin concentrations were further interpreted according to known species-specific sensitivities and normalized according to the principles of toxic equivalent factors (risk equivalent quantities - REQ) expressed in mu g kg(-1) of aflatoxin B1-equivalent. Forty percent of the visited feedlots had apparent fungi in TMR. However, only one feedlot (3%) used a mycotoxin adsorbent. On the other hand, diets with high contamination presented no apparent fungi. One hundred percent of TMR was contaminated. All samples presented at least one mycotoxin contamination, with 65.5% considered low contamination, 27.6% medium contamination, and 6.90% high contamination. The toxins identified in TMR were fumonisins (most frequently), trichothecenes A, trichothecenes B, fusaric acid, aflatoxins, and ergot (mean concentration values: 2,330, 104.3, 79.5, 105, 10.5, and 5.5 mu g kg(-1), respectively). According to the contamination of TMR samples per region, Mato Grosso do Sul state presented the highest contaminations. Peanut meal was the most contaminated ingredient. One hundred percent of TMR in Brazilian feedlot is contaminated. Fumonisins were the mycotoxin most frequent and at highest concentrations in TMR samples. Moreover, mycotoxin concentrations have a distinct pattern among ingredients, TMR, and feedlots (local). (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 15/21416-6 - IDENTIFICATION AND CONTROL OF MYCOTOXINS IN NELLORE CATTLE FEEDLOT DIETS
• Grantee: Letícia Custódio
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 17/50339-5 - Institutional research development plan of the Animal Science Institute (PDIp)
• Grantee: Lenira El Faro Zadra
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - State Research Institutes Modernization Program
• FAPESP's process: 18/20176-0 - Impact of different supplementation strategies on Nellore heifers on nutritional and reproductive performance
• Grantee: Laura Franco Prados
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral