Assessment of the level of contamination of feed with micromycetes and mycotoxins in the cattle industry of Ukraine in recent years

Abstract

Goal. To study the degree of contamination, the species of micromycetes and the content of mycotoxins (aflatoxin B1, sterigmatocystin, zearalenone, patulin) in feed for cattle for 2018 and the first half of 2019 and to carry out a retrospective analysis of contamination of feed with micromycetes over the last 5 years. Methods. Mycological and micotoxicological study was conducted in accordance with generally accepted and developed in the laboratory of Toxicological monitoring methods of determination. Results. Level of contamination with micromycetes in 87 samples of feed for cattle in 2018–2019 exceeded the maximum permissible level (MPL) in 73.6% of samples. The major ones were: feed — 23,4%, mono feeds and silage — 18,7% each, straw — 10,9%, and hay — 7.8%. The main pollutants of the feed were micromycetes of the family Mucoraceae — 25.6%, and of species: Aspergillus Mich. — 24,7, Penicillium Linc. 9.5, Fusarium Linc. — 3.3, other — 36.9%. 35 samples of feed were examined on the presence of mycotoxins. Only one sample of feed has zearalenone (0,88 mg/kg, which is 76% higher than MPL). Aflatoxin B1, sterigmatocystin, patulin and zearalenone were outside the method definition, and did not exceed MPL. Conclusions. The level of contamination with micromycetes of feed for cattle in 2018 and the first half of 2019 remained high, including poor quality (higher than MPL), and was 73.3% and 73.8% respectively. The main pollutants of the feed were moldy saprophytes of family Mucoraceae — 25.6%, and species: Aspergillus Mich. — 24,7%, Penicillium Linc. — 9.5%, Fusarium Linc. — 3.3%, other — 36.9%. The presence of aflatoxin B1, sterigmatocystin, patulin and zearalenone in quantities higher than MPL in 34 samples of feed was fixed. Only in the sample of feed zearalenone was determined — 0,88 mg/kg of feed, which is 76% higher than MPL.