Mycotoxins annual survey of mycotoxin in feed in 2022 Taiwan

In 2022 mycotoxins annual survey, Life Rainbow Biotech randomly collected 342 feed samples of raw materials and feed mills in farms and analyzed. The samples were tested for aflatoxins (B1, B2, G1, and G2), zearalenone, fumonisins (B1, B2, and B3) and deoxynivalenol (DON) by the ELISA Mycotoxin analysis kit.

From January to December 2022, the import volume of feed corn was 4,383 thousand tons, and Brazil and Argentina is 32.05% and 31.27%, followed by South Africa and the United States for 20.22% and 15.30% of the import volume respectively. Other importing countries include Ukraine, India, etc. The proportion is 1.17%.

In 2022, the detection rates of the four mycotoxins in the feed were 83.0% for aflatoxin, 65.8% for zearalenone, 63.7% for fumonisins, and 86.5% for DON.

 The mycotoxins average of positive were 3.09 ppb for aflatoxin, 96 ppb for zearalenone, 1032 ppb for fumonisins, and 724 ppb for DON. The maximum value of aflatoxin, zearalenone, fumonisins and DON all exceed the detection limit (Table 1).

Data on corn meal, nursery, and pregnant diet were conducted to give the prevalence of mycotoxins. Out of total 342 samples, 69 samples from corn meal were analyzed that observed feed were contaminated 85.5% of DON, whereas the maximum of positive of fumonisins exceeded the detection limit (table 2).

Of 45 samples of nursery feed collected, and analyzed that feed sample were contaminated with 88.9% aflatoxins, 75.6% zearalenone and 91.1% DON (table 3). 

The occurrence of mycotoxin in pregnant diet also analyzed and founded that aflatoxins and DON were most prevalent mycotoxins in pregnant diet, detected in 92.9% and 89.0% of samples respectively. (table 4).

Conclusion:
Among the total samples tested by Life Rainbow Biotech in 2022, the contamination rate of DON was the highest (86.5%), followed by aflatoxins 83%. Nearly 93.2% of the samples detected more than two mycotoxins; only 0.3% of the samples detected all four mycotoxins below the detection limit.

To minimize the risk of mycotoxins, using appropriate control during grain growth to decrease mold infection and populations' formation is necessary, also it is crucial to regulate the storage conditions to stop the expanded contamination scope. Mycotoxin contaminated feedstuffs will increase the risk to impact animal production and economic profit. According to the regional survey, feed manufacturers and animal producers should be aware of the occurrence of mycotoxins and implemented actions for mycotoxin management.

Life Rainbow Biotech has been researched mycotoxins for 17 years and developed an enzymatic mycotoxin-degrading product: Toxi-Free PLUS® which has three different special activity enzymes to degrade various types of mycotoxins for reducing the toxins' negative effects on animal. Adding Toxi-Free PLUS® to the feed as daily care product can reduce the damage caused by the mycotoxins, improve the health of farm animals, and result in increasing farmers’ profit.