Evaluation of mycotoxin-contaminated cereals for their use in animal feedsin Hungary

In the period between December 5, 1991 and September 17, 1998, 760 maize, 3 67 wheat, 119 soybean, 222 barley, 85 bran, 32 triticale, 60 oat, 14 rye an d 22 sunflower samples were investigated for the presence and concentration of seven fusariotoxins (T-2 toxin, zearalenone, deoxynivalenol, nivalenol, diacetoxyscirpenol, HT-2 toxin, fusarenone-X) and OTA. The comparison of a nalytical data with those of the relevant literature revealed that although the incidence rate and/or concentration of Fusarium mycotoxins and OTA in Hungarian-grown cereals is occasionally considerable, the position of the c ountry is not worse than the average of countries. Our findings indicate th at soybean tends to be good substrate for trichothecene-producing fungi and the rate of contamination is regarded as substantial. The commodities were assorted into one of three quality categories. The proportion of objection able samples was only 3.0, 2.2, 2.3 and 1.7% in maize, wheat, barley and so ybean samples, respectively. However, this low rate of objection might stil l be a source of great economic loss. The proportion of objectionable sampl es was much higher in the case of bran, oat and triticale (7.1, 6.7, and 6. 3%, respectively). The results of the present investigation indicate a need for regular screening for mycotoxins of importance and individual appraisa l of each commodity from the point of their use in animal feeds.