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RESEARCH ARTICLE

A preliminary survey of zearalenone and other mycotoxins in Australian silage and pasture

K. F. M. Reed A D and D. D. Moore B C
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Reed Pasture Science, 430 Beveridge Rd, Hamilton, Vic. 3300, Australia.

B University of Queensland, School of Animal Studies, Gatton College, Qld 4345, Australia.

C Biomin (Australia), 7 French Crescent, Caroline Springs, Vic. 3023, Australia.

D Corresponding author. Email: rps@eftel.net.au

Animal Production Science 49(8) 696-703 https://doi.org/10.1071/EA08164
Submitted: 16 May 2008  Accepted: 28 April 2009   Published: 27 July 2009

Abstract

The oestrogenic mycotoxin zearalenone can occur in pasture and fodder infected with various Fusarium spp., and at concentrations exceeding 1 mg/kg, it has been associated with a reduction in the fertility of grazing ruminants. Pasture and fodder samples collected in four small studies from cattle and sheep farms in south-eastern Australia were tested for zearalenone and other mycotoxins using high performance liquid chromatography. Zearalenone in winter pasture was detected (viz. >0.1 and up to 5.0 mg/kg DM) in 8 of 22 pastures; three exceeded the tolerance concentration, 1.0 mg/kg. Zearalenone was detected in 15 of 24 samples of silage that were submitted by farmers for nutritional assessment, but that were not suspected of toxicity; 12 were in the range 1.0–80 mg/kg. Zearalenone was correlated with crude protein concentration (r = 0.59, P < 0.05); it was high in legume-dominant compared with grass-dominant silage (P < 0.04). In a separate investigation of 28 feed samples submitted for mycotoxin screening by nutritionists/veterinarians, zearalenone was detected in 7 of 13 pastures, in two of two hays and 9 of 13 silages (6 of 28 exceeded 1 mg/kg). Deoxynivalenol was detected in 6 of 13 pastures, one of two hays and 10 of 13 silages. Deoxynivalenol was high (0.64–1.76 mg/kg) in five silages of excellent/average appearance. Ergovaline and lolitrem B were detected at above tolerable concentrations in four of eight perennial ryegrass-dominant samples examined. Aflatoxins, ochratoxin A and fumonisins were detected in some samples although the concentrations were low. Two samples contained either zearalenone and ergovaline, or zearalenone and deoxynivalenol, where both mycotoxins exceeded tolerable concentrations.

Additional keywords: aflatoxins, deoxynivalenol, ergovaline fumonisins, Fusarium, lolitrem B, oestrogens, residues, Romulea rosea, zeranol.


Acknowledgements

We thank participating producers for their willing cooperation and Biomin (Australia) for financial support. Pasture consultants, Mr L. J. Hamilton (Bairnsdale, Vic.), Mr S. Kemp (Meredith, Vic.) and Veterinary scientists, Drs Bruce Jackson (DPIW Tasmania) and G. Johnnson (Kingscote, South Australia) assisted with sampling. The Department of Primary Industries, Hamilton, Vic., provided ZEA and nutritive value determinations in the 2005 survey. Mycotoxins analyses for study 4 were carried out by Romer Laboratories, Singapore.


References


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