A new research study has found corn silages are to blame for aiding crop contamination
Research presented to the World Mycotoxin Forum found that despite anti-fungal treatments, growth of fungi or mycotoxins is spurred by using silages when storing the grain.
The study found that grain showed different profiles of mycotoxin contamination depending on the type of culture and storage conditions.
The research, carried out by Olmix and LABOCEA, was presented at the recently held World Mycotoxin Forum in Winnipeg, USA. It compared toxin occurrence in different types of corn materials: dry corn grain, humid corn grain and corn silage, using the LABOCEA database composed of chromatography analyses.
The profiles of fusariotoxins (percentage of positive samples) were very similar between corn raw materials whereas the level of median contamination depended on the type of corn material.
Corn silages had higher DON median level of contamination (1,090 ppb) than humid corn grains (980 ppb) than dry corn grains (720 ppb).
The Nivalenol (NIV) median level in corn silage was four times higher than in corn grain (290 ppb vs 68 ppb, respectively).
LABOCEA said crop contamination by certain species of fungus is 'difficult to control', with corn silages producing more than four times as many "mycotoxins" during the storage phase than in corn grain.
Eric Marengue, head of service in LABOCEA, said, "The research of mycotoxins is an important addition in terms of diagnosis of diseases in livestock, but also in prevention, to provide a supply of quality in humans or animals. This method requires high-tech equipment such as a chromatography system."
In total, Olmix presented four studies (including two posters) at the World Mycotoxin Forum.
