Degree of mycotoxicological contamination of feed and complete feed mixtures for pigs and poultry during the period 2007-2012. on the territory of the republic of serbia
Authors: Radulovic Stamen , Markovic Radmila , Milic Dragan , Jakic-Dimic Dobrila , Sefer Dragan 
Published: May 2013

The most common producers of mycotoxins are fungi of the genera Aspergillus,
Fusarium and Penicillium. Toxins are of extreme importance because it can be
transmitted from animals to humans through milk and animal products, some of
which are carcinogenic and teratogenic. Mycotoxins cause a health disturbance
of all animals, but the effects are more noticeable in highly productive
animals in the farm way of keeping considering the much greater consumption
of concentrate feeds, although forages also can be contaminated with
mycotoxins in a significant manner. Mycotoxicoses are the most com?mon
seasonal illnesses, and are an important diagnostic problem in veterinary
practice, because its characteristics often resemble diseases caused by
pathogens or nutritional deficiency or imbalance. The degree of health
disturbances depends on the amount of toxins in feed and the length of
intaking as on types and categories of animals. The presence of mycotoxins in
animal feed is inevitable and therefore testing of raw materials and products
is necessary so that feed for humans and animals can be safe for use. Damages
arising as consequences of mycotoxicosis in poultry and swine production, due
to the direct loss because of animals lossor, more commonly, indirectly due
to the fall productive and reproductive performances of animals, imposed the
need for continuous monitoring of the hygienic quality of feed mixtures for
feeding these animals. During a five year period (2007-2012) were analyzed a
total of 104 samples from the territory of Republic of Serbia intended for
nutrition of all categories of poultry and mixtures for the initial and final
fattening broilers (50 samples) and laying hens (54). The analysis included
57 samples of feed mixtures intended for all categories of swine - feed
mixture for young (20 samples) and the old categories (37 samples) and 196 of
the samples, which are commonly used in formulating rations for listed
species (maize, soybean and sunflower meal). For the analysis of the samples
was used thin layer chromatography and Elisa test. The results were compared
with current Regulations on the quality of the feed (Official Gazette of RS
41/09) in force since 1.05.2010. in the part where the maximum allowable
quantities of hazardous substances (Article 99) gives the value of the
maximum permitted levels of mycotoxins in animal feed. The number and types
of mycotoxins vary depending on the feed, as well as on the year which can be
directly related to climatic factors, and the average annual humidity. The
fact that in the samples was not detected the presence of aflatoxin indicate
that in our conditions toxin producing fungi do not find fertile ground for
the production of toxins, as well as the absence of certain nutrients in the
production of complete feed mixtures for pigs and poultry, which are the
traditional sources of aflatoxin (peanut oil meals). The results are
encouraging given the fact a relatively small number of defective mixtures
and nutrients. However, the fact that only a limited number of feed sam?ples
we received for the analysis suggests further caution and constant monitoring
of the presence of mycotoxins in animal feed.