Survey of Vomitoxin Contamination of 1980 Ontario White Winter Wheat Crop: Results of Survey and Feeding Trials1

Abstract

During the harvesting of the 1980 Ontario white winter wheat crop, producers noticed pink discoloration on kernels; this was attributed to Fusarium mold. Grain elevator and boatload samples were analyzed for mycotoxin contamination. Vomitoxin levels up to 8 ppm were detected in samples from southwestern Ontario. Other suspected mycotoxins were either nondetectable or present in trace amounts. Fusarium-contaminated wheat and clean wheat were added to swine and poultry diets for feeding trials. Feed refusal and decreased weight gains were observed in pigs fed diets containing 0.3 and 0.7 ppm vomitoxin, but there was no vomiting or other ill effects. Adult roosters and laying hens fed diets containing vomitoxin levels similar to those of the pig diets did not show any overt toxicological effects. Chemical analysis of suspected field cases of vomitoxin-contaminated feed did not reveal high vomitoxin levels.