They’re using cold plasma, which is created by electrical discharge in a low-pressure gas. One of the most common uses is in florescent lighting, which creates light with little heat.

Cold plasma is the fourth state of matter, alongside solid, liquid and gas. It’s the most common form of matter in the universe, but it’s mainly found in stars.

“From the gas state, (matter) can be changed to a fourth state, which is called plasma. This plasma consists of electrons, ions, and ultraviolet light,” said Ehsan Feizollahi, a researcher who did his PhD on cold plasma.

In the food industry, it has been investigated as an antimicrobial treatment in fruits, vegetables and some meat products.

At the University of Alberta, researchers have found a way to decontaminate grain damaged by mycotoxins, while also boosting seed germination. They chose two major mycotoxins, deoxynivalenol and zeralenone, which are both commonly found in wheat, barley and oats.

Mycotoxins are produced by fungi. Deoxynivalenol is produced by fusarium. The fungi produce mycotoxins in humid and warm conditions. Mycotoxins are not good for either human or animal health when consumed. In people they can cause diarrhea, nausea, headaches, brain and kidney damage, cancer and even death. Animals experience lower feed intake and other health effects.

Cold plasma technology can allow the food processing and livestock feed industries to create more effective, efficient ways to process grains that are safe for consumption, said Feizollahi. The researchers focussed mainly on barley.

“One of the methods was by treating normal air and creating plasma, and then treating grains using cold plasma treated air,” said Feizollahi. that treatment degraded the mycotoxins by 10 to 14 per cent.

Cold plasma can also be mixed with water, so researchers used plasma-treated water to steep grain, a process used in the malting industry.

“We substituted the normal water with plasma treated water and we used that water to treat barley grains. We noticed that treating barley grains with plasma water boosted the germination and resulted in the degradation of deoxynivalenol,” Feizollahi said.

“By treating these grains, we can prevent financial loss to the industry and prevent health effects to animals and humans that are using these grains.”

An estimated 25 per cent of grains in the world are contaminated by mycotoxins. Removing them would result in less waste and better outcomes for human and animal health.

High temperature treatment is ineffective against mycotoxins. They can be degraded using chemicals, but those have environmental effects and leave residues.

“Cold plasma is one of the methods that is a green method,” he said. “It doesn’t use any kind of chemicals. It doesn’t leave any kind of residue on the product. Also, we can create cold plasma by just using air and electricity. The electricity can be obtained from renewable resources, so it is a green technology.

“My other colleagues in the lab, they are working on different bacteria, like salmonella and e.coli.”

Feizollahi compared cold plasma to a sanitation material that can eliminate food borne microorganisms and mycotoxins. One benefit is the short treatment time.

“It depends on the type of mycotoxin that you want to treat, but if you want to use it for steeping, it usually takes one minute to an hour.”

As well, treatment doesn’t reduce grain quality or change beta-glucan, protein levels, water content or physical characteristics.

“The plasma has the side benefit of decontaminating the water used in the steeping process. It can kill all the other microorganisms as well in the water. We don’t need to use any kind of antibacterial in the water if you want to use this water somewhere else. We don’t need to treat it with any kind of chemicals,” he said.

The technology is open to licensing through the University of Alberta and researchers have applied for a patent.

The next step is to try the technique on a larger scale for industrial use. Feizollahi said the researchers hope to try the technology at the pilot plant scale and see whether cold plasma has the same effects.

– Alexis Kienlen is a reporter with the Alberta Farmer Express.

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Why it matters: In dairy cows, too much mycotoxin exposure has serious impacts on feeding and gestation. In poultry and pigs, the effects can be fatal.

Dr. Gustavo Scheunemann of Ohio State University’s department of veterinary medicine has focused his research on moulds and mycotoxins and their effects on dairy cattle.

Dairy farms rely significantly on stored feed and grains, which can contain mycotoxins.

The most common problems can be separated into two segments: fusarium in one and claviceps and aspergillus in the other. Fusarium includes fumonisin and produces T-2 toxin, HT-2 toxin, nivalenol (NIV), zearalenone (ZEA) and DON, among others. Within the claviceps subclass are ergot alkaloids and aspergillus, which produce aflatoxin and ochratoxin A.

“These are just a few of the mycotoxins,” said Scheunemann, referring to their prevalence on a global basis. “There are more than 400 that have been identified.”

Not just one problem

Scheunemann says total mix rations can be contaminated with several mycotoxins at the same time. In his research, 57 to 87 per cent of samples had two or more mycotoxins present.

Within North America, DON ranks the highest, with 64 per cent of samples testing positive. Along with NIV and T-2, it affects protein synthesis in dairy cows. Fumonisin (48 per cent) impedes enzyme production, ZEA is third at 28.9 per cent and stimulates estrogen production. Aflatoxin was detected in 11 per cent of continental samples.

In more detailed research, Scheunemann said elevated levels of mycotoxins in feed – whether corn silage or concentrated feed with visible mould – increases fungal growth and fermentation of plant proteins. This can trigger overproduction of undesirable bacteria like C. difficile, listeria monocytogenes and E. coli, all of which place animals at a higher risk for intestinal hemorrhaging.

Effects on gestation

Scheunemann also examined the effect of mycotoxins on gestation. The normal gestation period for dairy cows is 276 days, plus or minus six days. Gestation periods shorter than that – 255 to 269 days – can result in increased stillbirth, metritis and retained placenta, morbidity and increased culling.

Difficult births tend to lower milk production. The goal is to limit short gestation periods to less than 12 per cent, said Scheunemann. Short gestations in 20 to 30 per cent of cows with mycotoxin-contaminated TMR saw more twin pregnancies, loss of condition before calving and poor cow comfort.

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Every year, the animal feed supplement company Alltech Inc. takes samples from grains and silages across Canada and tests them for several mycotoxins that can affect animal health if found in large enough quantities.

Mycotoxins are stable chemical compounds produced by moulds. They are typically produced when that mould is stressed in some way, usually from drought, excess moisture or hot weather. And, as the name implies, they are toxic to farm animals.

“Mycotoxins can be the cause of many problems on the farm, whether we really know it or not,” says Alltech’s Dr. Alexandra Weaver. She notes the chemicals can cause digestive problems, negative impacts on reproduction, changes to the immune system (the way it reacts to pathogens or vaccinations), and overall reduced performance.

More than 500 mycotoxins have been identified, but there are a few types known to have a significant impact on farm animals. Aflatoxin is generally seen more during times of drought and when the days and nights are hot.

Deoxynivalenol (DON), or vomitoxin, is produced by Fusarium graminearum, and it is influenced by rain at flowering.

Zearalenone is produced by the same mould and is often observed with DON. T2 and HT2 toxins are also produced by fusarium moulds, but unlike DON, they are influenced by rain earlier in the season during stem elongation and booting.

“It is important to remember that each of these has a different effect on the animal,” says Weaver. “If they all come together and cause a multiple mycotoxin challenge, this could increase the total risks for the animals we’re observing.”

Manitoba corn

“We saw the presence of a variety of different mycotoxins in corn, with zearalenone having the highest presence in 50 per cent of the samples tested,” says Weaver. This would result in a moderate risk for sows and a high risk for breeding pigs.

There was a low presence of T2 and HT2 toxins and DON, but the levels were significant.

“For pigs, this would result in a moderate risk.”

Poultry are particularly sensitive to the T2 and HT2 toxins, so they are at a higher risk from this particular group of toxins.

Manitoba corn silage

All four mycotoxin groups were seen in the samples tested from corn silage, but zearalenone was the most prevalent and was present in all samples tested. That said, only 10 samples were tested.

“The harvest was a bit delayed here, and we didn’t get as many corn silage samples as we would have liked for this region,” says Weaver, but it does give a sense of what’s happening.

The samples showed mycotoxins present at significant levels: 390 ppb on average and a maximum of 1,446 ppb. T2 and HT2 occurred in 80 per cent of samples, and DON occurred in 75 per cent. Weaver says these levels are concerning.

“If we look at the breakdown of risk, we see that most of these samples are falling into the high-risk category for all of these ruminant groups.”

Although the sample rate was low, Weaver suggests that corn silage could be considered a riskier ingredient in Manitoba.

What to look for

To determine a mycotoxin challenge, “look at your animal signals,” says Weaver. “What are they showing you? The symptoms are often nonspecific or appear to be secondary effects, so it might be harder to see that mycotoxin challenge or catch it quickly.”

Poor vaccination response, increased disease occurrence, gut health challenges, changes to feed efficiency and behavioural changes are potential clues.

“Mycotoxins really aren’t about ‘if’ you have a challenge with them, it’s just how much,” says Weaver. “You’re almost always going to have some level of mycotoxins present.”

The question is whether they are present at levels high enough to be problematic for the animals.

“You also want to remember that multiple mycotoxins are the norm, so when we put all those together, those are going to increase the overall risk to the animal and could change the response that you see in terms of symptoms,” says Weaver.

Be proactive

Getting ahead of a mycotoxin challenge will lower the risk. Feed and ration analysis is recommended, as is careful checking and observation once grains are stored.

Weaver says it’s a good idea to prepare for the costs of a mycotoxin challenge by trying to understand how it will affect feed conversion rates. Producers should also consider the cost of extra health treatments and other production costs.

Finally, she recommends a look at feed formulation. If there is a high-risk ingredient, explore whether an alternative could be used or determine if it could be used at a lower rate.

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“With the current conditions in Western Canada, it is important that growers are aware of OTA and the conditions under which it can form,” said Brenna Mahoney, director of communications and stakeholder relation for Cereals Canada, one of the organizations that runs the Keep it Clean! initiative.

“By understanding what OTA is and how and when it forms during storage, growers can take proactive steps to safely store their grain and keep it free of OTA,” said Mahoney in a news release.

OTA is produced by Penicillium verrucosum, a naturally occurring soil fungus. Unlike deoxynivalenol (also known as DON or vomitoxin) which is formed in the field, OTA forms exclusively in storage.

OTA is strictly regulated in Europe but not yet in Canada or the U.S. However, because of its potential risk to human health, OTA is carefully monitored by end-users such as food processors, CFIA/Health Canada, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

The most common source of Penicillium verrucosum spores is from soil particles, last year’s stored grain, grain-handling equipment, and residues remaining in the bin. Penicillium can grow in small pockets of wet grain or when water comes in contact with grain even in bins that are generally well managed and properly aerated.

Keep it Clean! urges growers to keep bins and grain-handling equipment clean, thoroughly clean dust and debris between grain lots, ensure crops are harvested or dried to a safe level for storage, cool the grain quickly to well below 10 C and keep it cool for as long as possible to minimize condensation in the bin. Even fine droplets of condensate can allow the fungus to grow.

Prevention of even small pockets of OTA-contaminated grain during storage is the only way that it can be managed to protect health and prevent product recalls. By taking steps to prevent the formation of OTA in stored grain, Keep it Clean! says growers can protect their investments and help keep markets open for all.

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The Canadian Grain Commission (CGC) is asking the grain industry for opinions before May 10.

Both factors are included now, but through visual proxies — sprout damage for falling number and fusarium-damaged kernels for DON. They aren’t as accurate as machine measurements, but they are cheaper and faster.

“We know they (visual measurements) have served producers and the industry well, but should we be making improvements?” CGC corporate information services manager Remi Gosselin said in an interview.

The Alberta Wheat Commission (AWC) and Western Grain Elevator Association (WGEA) support objective testing in principle, but only when practical, saying benefits have to outweigh the cost.

AWC general manager Tom Steve and WGEA executive director Wade Sobkowich both questioned the timing given the Canada Grain Act and the CGC are under review.

The CGC and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada announced the review March 15 in Montreal during a closed-door meeting of the Grains Roundtable meeting.

Testing equipment expensive

DON levels have traditionally been measured in laboratories, but lateral flow strip technology is simple, fast and cost effective, a CGC discussion paper says.

The falling number test measures an enzyme called alpha-amylase, which is triggered by sprout damage and reduces the ability of bread to rise. The test, usually done in a laboratory, measures the time a plunger drops through a slurry of water and wheat flour. The more alpha-amylase the less viscous the slurry and the faster the plunger falls, resulting in a lower falling number.

“It’s important to note there are no predetermined outcomes and no decisions have been made,” Gosselin said, adding that’s why it’s a ‘discussion’ rather than a ‘consultation.’

If falling number and DON become grading factors the CGC could arbitrate disputes between farmers and grain buyers as it does now on other grading factors under ‘subject to inspector’s grade and dockage’ provisions in the grain act, Gosselin said.

“The other reason is grain-pricing transparency,” he said. “If it’s being used in transactions between grain companies and grain buyers, some people would argue they should be used in assessing the value of grain at delivery (by farmers).”

A CGC-led experiment in 2006-07 using Rapid Visco Analyzers (RVA) in elevators to measure alpha-amylase showed the machines were inaccurate, at least in an elevator setting as opposed to a laboratory, and are expensive at about $50,000 each.

Support for change

In 2004 the Keystone Agricultural Producers (KAP) passed a resolution in favour of using falling number. In 2018 the AWC and Western Canadian Wheat Growers Association also supported the idea.

Two of the last three Alberta harvests have been wet, Steve said.

“The falling number test in many cases verified it was milling wheat (even though sprout damage didn’t),” he said.

Still, the AWC has questions.

“Would it be a driveway test, for example? That has a lot of cost implications and speed implications for handling system,” Steve said. “We need to know a lot more about the nature of what the discussion is before we could take a formal position.”

The WGEA didn’t ask for the changes, Sobkowich said.

“Where it’s practical to test and get results on the driveway for farmers we generally support that in principle,” he said.

WGEA members, who include Canada’s major grain companies, buy wheat from farmers based on the current visual system, but exports using falling number and DON when asked to by customers, Sobkowich said.

Making falling number and DON grading factors wouldn’t result in any additional revenue to grain companies and would probably add costs, he said.

“So we have to weigh that against what the added costs might be to the system… and understand if there’s a net benefit or a net cost to the handling system, the grain sector, to farmers,” Sobkowich said.

“There will be winners and losers,” he said because machine testing would sometimes return more money to farmers than visual grading and vice versa.

If sprout damage and falling number were both grading factors, which the discussion paper (www.grainscanada.gc.ca) says could be an option, there would be two ways for wheat to be downgraded, Sobkowich said.

“I think a lot of people think falling number is a replacement for other grading factors. They think ‘since it has good falling number therefore I should get a No. 1.’ I think people don’t understand. It’s not a replacement for other degrading factors.”

SaskWheat is reviewing the issue and will take part in the discussion, but hasn’t formed a position yet, general manager Harvey Brooks said in an email.

As in Canada, falling number and DON are not part of official grades in the United States, but they do affect the prices paid to farmers, the CGC paper says.

The post Should falling number and DON be grading factors? appeared first on Manitoba Co-operator.

Wet weather was to continue and harvesting was delayed, with particular damage reported to that year’s potato crop. On Sept. 19 we reported that there had been 20 inches of rain in the Edwin-Carman-Rossendale area over the previous month.

Farmers with time on their hands could pull out a pencil and go through a special feature in the issue. The Co-operator had commissioned a University of Manitoba grad student to calculate the effect on different types of farms if there were a change in the method of paying the Crow benefit. Some farm groups wanted freight rates to rise to commercial levels, with the equivalent Crow benefit to be paid directly to farmers. That meant all farmers, including livestock producers would receive the benefit. Other groups wanted the payment to continue to go to the railways, meaning grain producers only would have the benefit. Farmers could fill out a worksheet for their own farm, but there were 12 theoretical examples showing the net cost and benefit for different combinations of grain and livestock operations. The issue became moot 10 years later when the Crow benefit was terminated completely.

There was gloomy news from south of the border, the Farm Credit Corporation was becoming one of the largest landowners in the U.S. as it continued to foreclose on mortgages. The situation was a reflection on the state of the farm economy, said to be the worst since the Great Depression.

The post Conditions ripe for fusarium, vomitoxin in wheat appeared first on Manitoba Co-operator.

“It’s very sad,” said Wayne Tomlinson, an extension veterinarian with the province. “You’re doing the right thing, you’re feeding your animals what you think is good-quality feed and they are not thriving, it’s very sad when you’re doing the right things and it’s not turning out right.”

Four cattle producers have contacted the Manitoba Co-operator in recent weeks, indicating they are seeking resolution with feed-manufacturing companies following cases of ergotism in their herds, resulting from pellet feed exceeding acceptable limits of ergot alkaloids.

Tomlinson said that wet conditions last year have led to a greater presence of the fungus.

“We had a lot of feed grains because the feed was damaged, so it is certainly a year where we would have a lot of potential for ergot poisoning,” he said, adding nutritionists would tell producers the best way to avoid ergot toxicity is to avoid feeding ergot-contaminated feed.

“But that is easier said than done,” Tomlinson added. “They can even get this grazing in mature grasses, so whether you’re grazing mature pasture, grass that has ergot in the seeds, or you’re feeding, the best thing is to recognize that there is a risk.”

The veterinarian said testing pellet feed for the toxic fungus is really the only way to know if it is present. However, getting a definitive feed or grain sample can prove challenging.

“Sampling is always difficult when we are dealing with anything in feed, in that it can be really, really difficult to get representative sampling,” he said. “Because there is variation across the field, there’s low spots and high spots, so the crop is different throughout the field, it’s different throughout the bin, maybe two or three bins get mixed together, sampling is just extremely difficult.”

Knowing exactly how widespread the problem of ergotism is also presents challenges. Because it’s not a reportable disease, increases are often cited with anecdotal evidence.

“We’ve been hearing a lot from the producers that there seems to be an increase in ergot issues out west,” said Annie Savoie, national manager of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s biotechnology and microbiology section. “We have not necessarily seen that in our monitoring programs, per se, but that’s what we’re hearing from producers.”

The agency is in the process of implementing a new method of monitoring ergot alkaloids, she said. Previous monitoring was based on programs looking for mycotoxins and “was not necessarily suitable” to ergot alkaloids.

It’s also in the process of updating the Feeds Act regulations “in order to develop a modernized risk- and outcome-based regulatory framework for feed.” As part of this process, the agency is reviewing feed controls and standards, as well as evaluating a proposal to reduce the maximum limits on ergot alkaloids in manufactured feed.

Currently, one kilogram of cattle feed can contain no more than three milligrams of ergot alkaloids. However, there is nothing in the Feeds Act or regulatory guidelines that require feed manufacturers to test their products for ergot alkaloids.

“And per the Feed Act and Regulation, we stipulate that all feed must be safe for livestock, humans and the environment,” Savoie said. “Testing is not mandatory. However, that being said, the feed manufacturer is responsible for selling feed that complies with the Feed Act and Regulations, so the manufacturers may have to test the feed in order to make sure it meets the regulatory requirements.”

Tomlinson said that if producers have not tested feed, but think there may be a problem with ergot alkaloids, they should keep an eye out for the symptoms of ergotism in their herds.

“Typically we see clinical signs related to the ergot alkaloids, which cause vassal constitution… so what we see are signs related to that — extremities will be cool, the tails, the ears, the feet, they will be cool to the touch because they are not getting enough blood flow,” he said, adding that the very first sign may be feed refusal and weight loss.

In severe cases, ergotism results in the sloughing off of ears, tails and hooves and can eventually result in death.

“And because vessel constriction can happen anywhere throughout the animal’s body, it can happen to the uterus too… there is less blood flow to the uterus and that could cause problems to the unborn calf, so the unborn calf may not do as well as expected. It can affect the udder as well, so lactation can be affected,” said Tomlinson. “There are different degrees, so it’s hard to give blanket answers, because the symptoms depends on the toxicity and the length of toxicity.”

Most of the affected producers indicated they had, or planned to, sell cattle impacted by ergotism, but only one cattle auction mart in the province indicated it had ergot-affected cattle pass through its facility in recent weeks. One auction mart owner said producers don’t normally disclose a history of ergot toxicity and that it is “buyer beware.”

While limited information on the issue is available, Savoie said it does not appear that cattle with ergotism pose any risk to human consumption.

“Ergot alkaloids are unlikely to transfer from feed into foods of animal origin, so we are talking eggs, meat and milk,” she said. “That being said, from an animal health perspective, the CFIA inspects all animals presented for slaughter at federally registered establishments, so the animal, when it’s going for slaughter, must meet the requirements of the meat inspection act and regulation from an animal health perspective.”

The post Ergot continues to cause concerns appeared first on Manitoba Co-operator.

Researchers from the University of Arizona (UA) said they had created a genetically modified maize plant that is edible even when infected with a mould that produces aflatoxin, a carcinogenic substance.

About 16 million tons of maize, equivalent to almost the total output of South Africa, are thrown out each year worldwide due to contamination, as even small amounts can make an entire harvest unsafe for consumption.

In developed countries, commercial crops are screened for aflatoxin. But in many parts of the developing world contaminated food often ends up on the plate, as crops are not tested and small farmers depend on what they harvest to eat, the researchers said.

“People are unfortunately consuming unknown and dangerous levels of these toxins pretty much on a daily basis,” said Monica Schmidt, assistant professor at UA’s School of Plant Sciences.

The problem is heightened during droughts — whose frequency is expected to increase with climate change — as the fungus spreads more easily among stressed crops, she said.

In a study published in the journal Science Advances, Schmidt and her team said they had created a genetically engineered maize plant, which produces a “Trojan Horse” molecule that jumps onto the fungus and shuts down its aflatoxin production.

Schmidt said the method should be transferable to other crops prone to aflatoxin contamination, like rice, soy and peanuts, as it exploits a naturally occurring biological mechanism known as RNA interference.

The method also has an advantage over other practices currently used to fight aflatoxin, like vacuum-sealed storage bags, as it tackles the fungus in the field rather than after harvest, Schmidt told the Thomson Reuters Foundation by phone.

She said initial analysis suggested the modified corn should not have any side-effect for consumers, but extensive field tests still needed to be conducted.

The toxin has been linked to stunted growth in children, increased risk of liver cancer, and higher susceptibility to HIV and malaria.

In 2004, Kenya suffered severe outbreaks of aflatoxin poisoning, which affected more than 300 people and killed more than 100 following a prolonged drought, according to the International Livestock Research Institute.

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It’s possible, but Juanita Kopp, a provincial livestock specialist, says producers do need to be aware of the risks and take steps to manage them.

“This is one of the topics I get a lot of questions on,” Kopp said in a recent interview. “I know that there is mouldy feeds fed every year in this province, and generally, you might not see any issues, but the biggest issue you would see, would be losses in production.”

Mould growth can reduce the value of the feed and the productivity of livestock, because it makes the feed less palatable to cattle.

“Of course, if they don’t like to eat it you are going to have reduced intake and therefore lower production and growth,” Kopp said.

As mould spores grow they also destroy the vitamins in feed, particularly vitamins A, D, E and K. Growing spores also have the chance of producing harmful mycotoxins.

“Mycotoxin production can be developed in almost any feedstuff during the growing season, harvest and during storage,” Kopp said. “Grains tend to receive the most attention but byproduct feeds, protein concentrates, finished feeds, oilseeds, wet brewers grains, food waste and forages may also contain mycotoxins.”

As the mould or fungal species grow they metabolize and produce secondary metabolites, mycotoxins. These can be extremely potent and produce effects with even low levels of exposure, Kopp said.

“Many commonly detected mycotoxins are produced in the field prior to harvest, so there is not much you can do to prevent it. But, of course storage and harvesting at the appropriate moisture, especially with silages, can help to reduce mould production,” Kopp said.

Mycotoxins can cause mycotoxin poisoning in livestock, which represses the animal’s immune system and can cause lack of response to medications and failure of vaccine programs.

“Mycotoxins may also cause diarrhea, intestinal infections, reduced production, lower fertility, lethargy and increased morbidity. It can also impact the enzymes, how they are produced and how they function,” Kopp said. “With that we can see some suppression of the immune system, which predisposes our animals to diseases and may increase milk somatic cell count when looking at dairy cows.”

Mould growth will also exacerbate dust, which if inhaled can cause fungal pneumonia. Mouldy hay also presents a problem for producers, as the mould spores can be inhaled and cause farmer’s lung.

Preventing mould

Mould requires oxygen, heat, moisture and nutrients in order to grow. Once moisture levels reach 15 per cent, mould has a chance to grow and it will grow most rapidly at the 24° to 32° mark.

“If we eliminate oxygen or moisture then we can maintain the feed for an extended period of time,” Kopp said.

If you have concerns over the level of mould in your feed, Kopp highly recommends getting a feed test in order to get a better understanding if it may be acceptable for use.

She adds, that determining if feed is still acceptable is a complex situation which requires a case-by-case analysis.

“Under 500,000 spores per gram is a relatively low count and should be acceptable for feed. When we get over a million spores per gram, that is when we start to discount the energy, so feed with caution,” Kopp said.

In most cases, the best thing to do with mouldy feed is to compost, dispose of, or dilute it with ‘clean’ feeds.

“Mixing with other ‘clean’ feed is probably the best way to go, but I would still observe the animals for any changes in behaviour,” Kopp said. “Cattle are generally less sensitive to the moulds and mycotoxins than pigs, horses and chickens because they can detoxify and transform to other metabolites that are less harmful, but they are nevertheless susceptible to the negative effects of mould and mycotoxins in feed.”

If you do plan to use contaminated feeds, Kopp says they are best fed to older replacement cattle or cows that are late in lactation.

“We want to limit the amounts of mouldy feeds to the more sensitive animals in our herd, that being pregnant cows or high-producing cattle in terms of dairy cattle, and younger calves, as they are a lot more sensitive to mould,” Kopp said.

Kopp recommends looking into the Prairie Diagnostics Service’s feed tests, which also offers mycotoxin and ergot toxin screens, or inquiring with your local Manitoba Agriculture office.

The post Managing the risks of mouldy feed appeared first on Manitoba Co-operator.

Importers of corn — organic or otherwise — from India, starting immediately, first must sample the corn, upon arrival in Canada and provide test results to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

The sampling must be done immediately after arrival at the Canadian destination, CFIA said in a release Tuesday, because mould can grow and produce aflatoxins during shipping. Sampling and analysis conducted prior to shipping will not be accepted.

Shipments will only be released with an original certificate of analysis from an accredited lab showing the shipment comes in below the 20 parts per billion (ppb) level, CFIA said.

Seen mainly in imports of food and feeds from tropical and sub-tropical regions, aflatoxins are toxic byproducts of mould growth and are considered a potent carcinogen.

Aflatoxin contamination, at sufficient levels in affected livestock, can limit immune function, compromise resistance to infection and reduce animal performance. Consumed at higher levels, doses of aflatoxins can be fatal.

Canada’s Feeds Regulations limit aflatoxin levels in imports of corn or other feed ingredients to 20 ppb and prohibit corn deemed to be musty, mouldy or damaged from heat or any other cause that would render the feed unfit or unsafe for feeding.

CFIA recommended importers, buyers, feed millers and livestock producers ask for further information from their suppliers on the sources of any corn and contaminant specifications on any ingredients they buy.

USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) staff at the end of April projected India’s total 2014-15 corn exports to come in at about 1.5 million tonnes, down from 3.9 million in 2013-14. — AGCanada.com Network

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