Effects of the Processing on the Distribution of Aflatoxin and Fumonisin Levels in Corn Fractions and Feeds

Abstract

Abstract The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of the processing on the distribution of aflatoxin and fumonisin levels in corn fractions and feeds. The small, coarse, fines and dust from corn represented 6.79% of the total lot and 70–80% of contamination of the feeds. The conditional times of 30 and 45 s before pelleting increased the aflatoxin and fumonisin levels in the feed to 151.7 μ g/kg and 14.5 μ g/g, respectively. In 60 s of exposition of feed, there was a better distribution of aflatoxins (2.3 μ g/kg) and fumonisins (0 μ g/g) in the final feeds. The treatments with higher levels of contamination affected positively the distribution of aflatoxin and fumonisin levels when they were exposed for 60 s. It was concluded that dry milling of corn and the steps of processing of feed affects the distribution and reduces the fumonisin and aflatoxin levels in the final feeds. Practical Applications This work was to approach the reduction and distribution of mycotoxins in corn fractions and feed using a suitable management in the processing of products. The separation of small fractions of corn and the use of different exposure times of feed pelleting temperature allow some parameters to validate the reduction of contamination and distribution throughout the processing steps. The experimental results have benefits to the feed industry in order to control the high levels of contamination with aflatoxins and fumonisins in the final feed.