Aflatoxin and Mycotoxin Risks - University of Illinois Extension

Aflatoxin and Mycotoxin Risks

• Dr. Mike Hutjens Dairy Extension Specialist

Jim Baltz

Instructional Design Specialist University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Drought-Stress Corn Risks • Lower quality feed

• Nitrate levels

• Aflatoxin risks

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

What is Aflatoxin • A fungi (Aspergillus) produces aflatoxin • Aflatoxin is a cancer-causing agent in humans and animals

• Mold colonizes on corn kernels caused by ear rot or ear mold • The mold is olive-green colored mold University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Why is Aflatoxin A Concern for Lactating Cows?

• FDA has ruled any milk over 0.5 ppb (parts per billion) cannot be used for human consumption • Lactating cows excrete 1 to 2% of consumed aflatoxin in milk • Rations over 20 ppb times 2% is 0.4 ppb (cows vary in the level of aflatoxin transferred) University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Scouting and Identifying the Disease • Inspecting at least 10 ears in several locations in a field prior to harvesting

• Peel back the husks and look for an olive-green mold on the ears. • Mold will appear powdery and may disperse like dust when the husk is pulled back.

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Purdue Extension Diseas of Corn: Aspergillus Ear Rot BP-83-W

Maximum Levels of Aflatoxin (In the total ration dry matter) • Lactating dairy cattle

20 ppb

• Breeding beef, swine, and dairy

100 ppb

• Swine

200 ppb

• Beef steers

300 ppb

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Mycotoxin Levels for Dairy Cattle • Aflatoxin

< 20 ppb (parts per billion)

• DON (vomitoxin) < 6.0 ppm (parts per million)

• T-2 toxin

< 100 ppb

• Zearalenone

< 300 ppb

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Signs of Mycotoxin • Immune suppression (cattle do not respond to disease challenges) • Rumen disorders • Loose fecal discharges • Reduced dry matter intake (over 2 pounds per cow)

• Hormonal-like changes (udder development and reduced fertility) University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Strategies If Milk Is High in Aflatoxin • Test your feeds to determine which feed(s) (corn, corn silage, fuzzy cottonseed, and/or corn by-product feed is an at-risk feed) • Remove any at-risk feed immediately, milk can clear in 48 hours (varies by cow) • Have your milk coop monitor your milk weekly to be sure it is safe University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Strategies With AflatoxinContaminated Corn Grain or Silage • Dilute down with wholesome forages and grains • Add an additive (flow agent) • Ammoniate the corn grain

• Be aware of corn by-product risks University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Mycotoxin Binders • Clay-based compounds such as bentonite, zeolite, and calcium aluminosilicate (50 to 225 gram / cow / day) when dealing with aflatoxin • Yeast cell wall extracts (also call MOS and glucomannans) and enzymatic products can be effective when dealing with T-2 toxins, DON, and zearalenone (10 g / cow / day) University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Ammoniation of Aflatoxin-Contaminated Corn Grain • Ammonia breaks the ring structure of aflatoxin • Treat grain above 13% moisture and 60 degrees F in a sealed containment bag / bin • Ammonia gas (0.5% to 1.5%) or aqua-ammonia 2.6 lb of 26 to 28% ammonia liquid • Corn will darken in color (caramelize sugar) • Can not be sold across state lines (FDA) and handling risks must be considered with ammonia University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

By-Product Feeds • Corn distillers grain will be three times higher than the original corn in aflatoxin • Corn gluten feed can be high

• Hominy can be high • Fuzzy cottonseed can contain aflatoxin University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Management Considerations • Testing feed is difficult due to sampling error • Do not store wet corn with aflatoxin as high moisture corn; dry it down to < 14% moisture • Wet corn (rain or maturity) and warm weather favor aflatoxin development • Screen out fines and broken kernels

• Clean equipment after harvest University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Protect Yourself • Wear a respirator capable of filtering fine dust particles (N95 or better). • Change your clothes after handling grain. • See a doctor if you get sick after handling grain and make your physician aware of your activities.

• Handle out-of-condition grain carefully. Be alert for blocked flow, cavities, crusting, and grain avalanches. Out-ofcondition corn is the leading cause of suffocation in grain bins. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Purdue Extension Managing Aspergillus Ear Rot and Aflatoxin

Take Home Messages • Monitor milk aflatoxin levels to protect your milk supply and consumer confidence • Test feeds to determine risk • Consider strategies to reduce levels in milk University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Check out our online dairy courses at http://online.ansci.illinois.edu/ and Illini DairyNET at http://www.livestocktrail.illinois.edu/dairynet/

Dr. Mike Hutjens

Jim Baltz

Dairy Extension Specialist Instructional Design Specialist University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign