Grain should be in the proper condition when entering storage.
where biotic factors, such as grain, bacteria, yeast and fungi, are controlled. Grain should be dried as quickly as possible, adds Cheli. In silage especially, microclimates can develop, she adds, leading to the growth of fungus and even mycotoxins. A good silage yard is crucial to mitigating their development.
Recommended moisture and humidity levels In suitable storage units, mycotoxins and fungus can still develop, but are easier to contain. In poorer storage units, feed quality can diminish quickly, depending on how bad conditions are. To avoid potential issues, storage facilities should be cleaned and sanitised before new batches of grain enter the unit. This is done to limit the accumulation of dust, which favours mould development. Residues should not exceed authorised levels. Cheli recommends that, at harvest, growers move grain as quickly as possible to avoid the risk of storing grain at varying moisture and humidity levels. When one part of the crop has higher dry matter content it’s more difficult to compress and remove air, she said. Loading grain on consecutive days under different environmental conditions can open the door to possible contamination. Recommended internal humidity should be less than 17 to 20%, depending on the crop. During this important phase, controlling the atmosphere within the storage facility is a strong strategy for mycotoxin prevention. Scientific literature
56 ▶ MYCOTOXINS | NOVEMBER 2021
highlights high N2 concentration as a possible large-scale,
eco-friendly and low-cost prevention method in stored cere- als. Temperature and humidity increases should be avoided, as too should condensation inside the storage structure.
Using technology to monitor and control the environment In her literature review, PhD student Fumagalli pointed to the importance of monitoring and controlling the atmosphere within the storage unit. Large-scale storage facilities use sen- sor technology to monitor fluctuations in temperature and condensation; fewer small-scale operations use this technolo- gy. Real-time monitoring systems can be used in individual si- los, or in several silos at once in a network that gathers mean- ingful data on the quality of stored grain. Fumagalli says that the literature suggests that sensor technology is a good in- vestment for all grain storage units, no matter their size. E-nose technology offers another option for grain storage fa- cilities, says Cheli. “When fungus is growing and mycotoxins are produced, the production of mycotoxins are associated with different aromas,” she explains. The electronic nose can evaluate the smell print related to the production of different mycotoxins present and, in some cas- es, quantify their levels. There are currently two electronic noses on the market. One is more suited for use in storage units, while the other is better suited to lab conditions. Another option for detecting the presence of mycotoxin is image analysis. Image analysis tools evaluate grain colour,
PHOTO: JORIS TELDERS
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