POSSIBLE NATURALLY-OCCURRING ZERANOL IN BOVINE BILE IN NORTHERN-IRELAND

Zeranol and two Fusarium toxins, alpha-zearalenol and beta-zearalenol, were confirmed by gaschromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) in bovi ne bile samples referred to this laboratory for analysis. No evidence of zeranol abuse was found on-farm. Given the recent suggestion that z eranol might arise from the metabolism of these Fusarium toxins, and t he finding of zeranol in bovine and ovine urine across the EU, it. was concluded that the residues had arisen as a result of natural metabol ism.