In this study, samples of maize and grass silage were collected from various farms of Lithuania and were analysed for mycotoxins: aflatoxin B 1 (AFB 1 ), deoxynivalenol (DON), T-2 toxin (T-2) and zearalenone (ZEA), over the 2017-2019 period. Silage nutrient composition, including content of dry matter, crude protein, crude fibre, starch (for maize), and acidity (pH) were investigated, and fermentation degree was computed. All samples contained at least one mycotoxin, 85% of samples were co-contaminated with all four mycotoxins tested, 13% of samples contained three and only 1.5% of samples contained two mycotoxins. In general, the concentrations of DON, ZEA and T-2 were respectively 5, 1.7 and 2 times higher in maize silage than in grass one. Maize silage had the highest levels of ZEA and AFB 1 , exceeding the European Union's (EU) maximum allowable limits. In grass silage, mycotoxin with the highest concentration exceeding the allowable limits was AFB 1 . Between the experimental years, statistically significant differences were found only in T-2 content in maize silage. Silage storage had an impact only on AFB 1 concentrations: its highest concentration (10.9 ± 1.1 μg kg -1 ) was found in trench silos, while in silage clamps and bales that ones were lower by 48% and 44%, respectively. DON negatively correlated with dry matter in grass silage. ZEA negatively correlated with crude protein content and pH in maize silage and with dry matter and crude fibre content and pH in grass silage, but positively correlated with fermentation degree in both silages. T-2 negatively correlated with crude protein content and positively correlated with crude fibre content in grass silage.
The aim of this study was to determine how citrinin (CIT), aflatoxins (AFL B1+B2+G1+G2 ), ochratoxin A (OTA), zearalenone (ZEA), and deoxynivalenol (DON) concentrations vary under different maize grains storage conditions and how they affect grain quality. Analyses of mycotoxins: AFL B1+B2+G1+G2 , CIT, DON, ZEA, and OTA, and grain quality: dry matter (DM) content, crude protein (CP), crude ash (CA), crude fibre (CF), crude fat, and starch, were performed at the beginning of the experiment and then after 3 and 6 months of storage. The results of the experiment showed that the duration of storage had the greatest influence on the formation of AFL B1+B2+G1+G2 when an average concentration increased about three times after 6 months of storage, regardless of storage conditions. The duration of storage also had a significant effect on CIT accumulation, as it was not detected in the maize grain samples before the experiment, and after 6 months of storage, the concentration ranged from 93 to 184 µg kg -1 . It was also noted that there is no risk of an increase in the concentrations of DON, ZEA, and OTA in maize grains when dried grains are stored well (up to 7% moisture content). The DON concentration after 6 months of storage at 12°C and 20°C and in the warehouse decreased about two times, while at 4°C after 3 months of storage it also decreased, and then after 6 months it increased to the same concentration as at the beginning of the experiment. Throughout the experimental period, ZEA and OTA concentrations were slightly above or below the limit of detection (LOD). The nutrient composition after 6 months of storage was only different after storage at 20°C temperature. The increase in starch content was accompanied by an increase in the DM content. Strong positive correlations were observed: as the concentrations of AFL B1+B2+G1+G2 and CIT increased, so did the DM content, while the crude protein content increased with increasing the DON concentration.
The common smut of corn, caused by Ustilago maydis, reduces the yield and quality of maize forage. When heavy infestations of corn smut occur, grain yields can be so severely decreased that the most viable economic alternative may be to harvest and ensile the crop. Only a couple of studies have attempted to investigate the influence of aerobic exposure on the nutritive value and aerobic stability of silage, which is prepared from smut-infected maize. In this study, individual whole corn plants were harvested by hand. The plants were distributed into three treatments: 0% infected, 50% infected, and 100% infected. The fresh forage was ensiled in triplicate for a 90-day period. Aerobic exposure lasted for 28 days. Samples were taken on the day of opening and on the 3rd, 7th, 14th, and 28th days. Near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) calibration equations were used for the prediction of qualitative indicators. Silage prepared from 100% smut-infected maize had comparatively poor quality with dry matter loss, increasing pH and the low amount of starch. It was also distinguished with significant temperature increases from days 15 to 18 of aerobic exposure. Silage prepared from 50% smut-infected maize did not show significant quality changes over the period of the experiment, although it had inferior quality compared to the silage prepared from smut-free maize. While silage prepared from smut-infected maize had an overall worse quality than silage prepared from non-infected maize, it should not have an adverse effect on livestock health or production.
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