Exposure of game birds to ochratoxin a through supplemental feeds

Thirty randomly selected game bird feeders were sampled at 25-33-day interv als from November 1996 to March 1997 to quantitate ochratoxin A concentrati ons in supplemental feed. Monthly mean ochratoxin A concentration of grain in feeders was 8.3 +/- 0.8 ppb (n = 167). Ochratoxin A concentrations from individual feeders ranged from <5 to 109.9 ppb, levels that have not been d emonstrated to negatively affect game birds in a laboratory environment. St ress may increase the chance of ochratoxin-induced mortality or morbidity f or wild game birds. Only mean relative humidity was significantly correlate d with monthly mean ochratoxin A concentration.