Performance and health were not affected in feedlot cattle fed 10 to 15 ppm DON in the diet provided little or no other mycotoxins were present. Trials with single dose rate that did not reflect expected levels in practice. Animals used were the least sensitive, ie mid to late lactation cows producing 20 kg milk. Detoxification of mycotoxins Ruminants are uniquely equipped to protect themselves from the harmful effects of mycotoxins. It is assumed that sufficient degradation of the mycotoxins has taken place before absorption into the blood and vital organs to protect the animals.
Mycotoxins are detoxified or altered in the rumen.
The extent of detoxification of any particular mycotoxin depends on the rate of passage of feed. Rumen turnover rates are about 8 times longer in beef cows than lactating dairy cows. The extent of detoxification depends on the original dose level. DON were completely transformed to the reportedly less toxic deepoxy DON or DOM-1 within 24 hours when incubated in rumen fluid. More than half of the DON remained from the 50 and 100 ppm DON treatments at 24 hours incubation.