Mycotoxins annual survey of mycotoxin in feed in 2021 Taiwan

In 2021 mycotoxins annual survey, Life Rainbow Biotech randomly collected 393 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 2021, the import volume of feed corn was 4,128 thousand tons, and the United States is 35.26%, followed by Brazil and Argentina for 27.91% and 25.87% of the import volume respectively. Other importing countries include South Africa, Ukraine, India, etc. The proportion is 10.96%.

In 2021, the detection rates of the four mycotoxins in the feed were 80.2% for aflatoxin, 74.8% for zearalenone, 62.1% for fumonisins, and 75.3% for DON. 

The mycotoxins average of positive were 3.10 ppb for aflatoxin, 111 ppb for zearalenone, 884 ppb for fumonisins, and 883 ppb for DON. The maximum value of aflatoxin detected in the total feed samples was 13.86 ppb, DON was 4777 ppb, and zearalenone and fumonisins all exceeded the detection limit (Table 1).  

Data on corn meal, nursery, and pregnant diet were conducted to give the prevalence of mycotoxins. Out of total 393 samples, 85 samples from corn meal were analyzed that observed feed were contaminated 72.9% of DON, whereas the maximum of positive of fumonisins exceeded the detection limit (table 2).

Of 64 samples of nursery feed collected, and analyzed that feed sample were contaminated with 87.5% Aflatoxins, 85.9% Zearalenone and 84.4% DON (table 3). 

The occurrence of mycotoxin in pregnant diet also analyzed and founded that Aflatoxins and Zearalenone were most prevalent mycotoxins in pregnant diet, detected in 86.8% and 72.8% of samples respectively. (table 4).

Among the 393 total samples tested by Life Rainbow Biotech in 2021, the contamination rate of aflatoxin was the highest (80.2%), followed by zearalenone and DON, and nearly 91.1% of the samples detected more than two mycotoxins; only 1.0% 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 16 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.