Mycotoxin contamination of silage harvested by livestock farms in the Vologda region

Abstract

The article reflects the results of the study of mycotoxin contamination of silage harvested in 2021–2023 in the Vologda region. The main objective of the study was to assess the degree of mycotoxin contamination of different types of silage. The analyzed samples were represented by silages of different composition: legume-grass, cereal, corn, mixed grass and grass silage from natural lands. In total, more than 150 silage samples from 22 farms in the region were investigated. The content of mycotoxins (aflatoxin sum, ochratoxin A, zearalenone) in feeds was determined by enzyme immunoassay using standard test systems of ComProdService (Belarus). It has been established that almost all fodders harvested by farms in the Vologda region contain mycotoxins. Thus, more than 75% of samples contained aflatoxins at a concentration above 5 µg/kg (MAC), 45% contained ochratoxin A at a concentration also exceeding MAC. The most susceptible to aflatoxin contamination was legume-grass and corn silage, the proportion of contaminated samples in this case was 94 and 85%, respectively. The presence of ochratoxin A in high concentrations was more frequent in silage obtained from mixed grasses (91%). A high proportion of contaminated samples was also found in grass silage harvested from natural lands (73% aflatoxins, 48% ochratoxin A). The obtained results indicate the need for more careful control of silage preparation and storage at all stages of production, taking preventive measures by agricultural producers to reduce the negative consequences of the use of toxic fodder.