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Fumonisin in Corn
Fumonisins are toxic to horses, rabbits,
swine, and catfish
Paul Vincelli
Extension Professor, Plant Pathology
The Following is a communication from
Paul Vincelli, Extension Plant Pathologist, regarding fumonisin in
corn. Links to more information about fuminoisin are included in this
communication.
Fumonisin: Part I
The hot, dry
weather many areas experienced during silking and grain fill of corn
increased the risk of contamination with fumonisins. These mycotoxins are
regulated by FDA in both human foods and animal feeds. They pose a
particular risk to horses, rabbits, swine, and catfish. More information
on the risk fumonisins is available at:
www.ca.uky.edu/agc/pubs/id/id121/id121.pdf
We do not
have a routine screening program for mycotoxins in Kentucky, so we have no
data on the actual occurrence of contamination this year. However, two
corn samples recently tested at the UK Grain Quality Lab raise some
concerns. By visual inspection, the samples appear to be relatively
sound corn with no visible mold. Four observers, including a local horse
farmer, agreed there was nothing visual in the samples that would raise
any flags about feeding to animals. Yet the Grain Quality Lab's tests,
confirmed by Neogen Corporation, indicated the samples had significant
levels of fumonisins. One sample had 12.5 ppm fumonisins, a level which
greatly exceeds the FDA maximum levels established for feeding to horses
and rabbits. The other sample, with 26.0 ppm fumonisins, meets
the criteria for No. 3 yellow corn, again, with no visible evidence of
mold; this one exceeds the FDA maximum level for all four animal species
listed above. These high levels would not have been detected had the
farmer not specifically requested a fumonisin test.
Producers
feeding corn to horses, rabbits, swine, and catfish would be well-advised
to test corn lots grown in this region in 2002 for fumonisins.
Laboratories that conduct these tests can be found at the following
website
www.ca.uky.edu/agcollege/plantpathology/PPAExten/PPFShtml/ppfmisc1.htm
Fumonisin: Part II
I have more
information on fumonisin contamination in the 2002 corn crop. Steve
Traylor, from Regulatory Services, has been testing corn lots relating to
feed production. Corn from late crops has been commonly showing levels of
fumonisins between 2 - 20 ppm, especially in portions of the state from
Hardin and Meade Counties west to the Land-Between-The-Lakes. Early crops
were not contaminated, according to his tests. Late crops have a higher
risk of contamination because conditions of heat and drought prevailed
during silking and grain fill in these crops, which are factors that
increase fumonisin risk.
Based on
information I have received, it appears that some (possibly many?) corn
suppliers do not appreciate the risk that fumonisins may pose to sensitive
animals. One additional note: producers should be especially careful
feeding screenings, since fumonisin can sometimes be concentrated in
screenings. The resources available to you on this subject are as follows:
Fumonisin
www.ca.uky.edu/agc/pubs/id/id121/id121.pdf
Laboratories For Mycotoxin Tests
www.ca.uky.edu/agcollege/plantpathology/PPAExten/PPFShtml/ppfmisc1.htm
----------------------------------
Paul Vincelli
Extension
Professor
Dept. of
Plant Pathology
University of
Kentucky
S-305 Ag
Science North
Lexington, KY
40546-0091
pvincell@uky.edu
ph
859/257-5675
fx 859/323-1961
www.ca.uky.edu/agcollege/plantpathology/ppaexten/ppaext.html
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