Survey of zearalenone and type-B trichothecene mycotoxins in swine feed in the USA

New information is needed regarding the types and concentrations of mycotoxins in swine feed. We hypothesized that (1) the mycotoxins deoxynivalenol (DON), 3-acetyldeoxynivalenol (3-AcDON), 15-acetyldeoxynivalenol (15-AcDON), nivalenol (NIV), and zearalenone (ZEN) vary among swine ingredient and feed types, and (2) the inclusion of specific ingredients is associated with mycotoxin contamination in complete feed. A total of 707 samples were collected from cooperators in 14 states between June 2018 and January 2020 then analyzed for DON, 3-AcDON, 15-AcDON, NIV, and ZEN contamination using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Ninety-four percent (663/707) of samples contained DON, 33% (230/707) of samples contained 3-AcDON, 57% (404/707) of samples contained 15-AcDON, 1% (6/707) of samples contained NIV, and 47% (335/707) of samples contained ZEN. Seventy-three percent (514/707) of samples contained multiple mycotoxins. Resulting DON concentrations were below the national advisory limits for all sample types, and no advisory limits are imposed for the other mycotoxins studied. Increased incorporation of distiller's dried grains with solubles (DDGS) was associated with increased DON in complete feed (R-2 = 0.82).

Automated summary

This study investigated the distribution of several mycotoxins in swine feed and found that the majority of samples contained DON, with some also containing other mycotoxins; DON concentrations in all sample types were below the national advisory limits, with increased DDGS associated with higher DON levels in feed.