Mitigating mycotoxin development in storage


Control of temperature and moisture to a safe storage level can be a big factor to mitigating mycotoxins in animal feed. Good storage measures can be taken to further reduce the risk of mycotoxins and mould development in the feed.


BY MELANIE EPP, INDEPENDENT CORRESPONDENT M


ycotoxin exposure is a major concern in agricultural production. Feed can be contaminated by several fungal species, and infected feed impacts the performance and


quality of livestock production. Although prevention of mould and mycotoxin contamination is almost impossible, producers and feed companies that adopt an integrated management programme will go a long way in mitigating the risk of contamination in the animal feed supply chain. A team of researchers at the University of Milan, including second year PhD student Francesca Fumagalli and researchers Federica Cheli, Luciano Pinotti and Matteo Ottoboni, has come up with an innovative and integrated system for handling mycotoxins along the feed chain. Although their strategy focuses on all critical control points along the entire feed chain, farmers will want to pay special attention to recommended strategies in storage, especially at this time of year.


Mitigating mycotoxin infestation While mycotoxin contamination can occur at all crop development stages, as well as at harvest, it can also occur in storage following harvest. The consequences of poor storage are loss of grain quality and quantity. “Storage grain losses account for 10 to 20%, as a result of insect damages, and nearly 420 Mt of grains are wasted during storage yearly,” wrote the paper’s authors. The comprehensive paper was published in the scientific journal Toxins, an international, peer-reviewed, open access journal that publishes for studies related to toxinology. Quality storage starts with the grain that enters storage. Grain should be in the proper condition when entering storage. Parameters such as moisture and disease levels, and kernel entirety are most important. “The key word is prevention,” says Cheli. “Sometimes, during storage, we can have more problems with contamination.” One of the best ways to mitigate mycotoxin development is through the control of abiotic factors, such as water, air and temperature. Of course, this is only relevant in conditions


▶ MYCOTOXINS | NOVEMBER 2021


It is recommend- ed that growers move grain as quickly as possi- ble to avoid grain being stored at differ- ent moisture and humidity levels.


PHOTO: TWAN WIERMANS


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