Productivity, nutritional composition, and presence of mycotoxins in different corn hybrids

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to assess the crop yield, nutritional composition, and mycotoxin contamination in different corn hybrids. The impact of these variables on the feed formulation cost of starter diets for broilers was also evaluated. A total of 150 samples from 50 corn hybrids was obtained from a field experiment. Nutrients were predicted by NIRS and mycotoxins were analyzed by HPLC-MS/MS. Data were submitted to analysis of variance and corn hybrids were grouped using Scott-Knott test at 5% significance. Pearson correlation analysis was performed among the main variables. Most of the variables were different among corn hybrids (P < 0.05), with exception of available phosphorus (Av. P), damaged grains, and DON and ZEA contaminations (P > 0.05). Crop yield had a positive correlation (P < 0.05) with feed formulation cost (r = 0.35) and a negative correlation (P < 0.05) with crude protein (-0.42), digestible (dig.) Thr (-0.42), and dig. Met+Cys (-0.42). The feed cost correlated positively (P < 0.05) with FUM (0.33) and ZEA (0.29), and negatively (P < 0.05) with crude protein (-0.74). Different corn hybrids vary in their productivity, nutritional content and mycotoxins contamination. It was demonstrated that an increase in the crop yield might be related to a reduction in corn nutritional content and quality, resulting in an increase in feed formulation cost.