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DATCP Issues Warning About Aflatoxin in Corn Shipments
Wisconsin Ag Connection - 10/12/2012
Although Wisconsin may export more corn products than it brings in this year, state agriculture officials are advising producers to be aware of aflatoxin in any feed they bring on to their farms. According to DATCP Feed Specialist Nate Bartz, aflatoxin is a byproduct of some molds that can grow on corn that's associated with hot and very dry growing seasons.
"If you're buying corn to mix your own rations, you need to know where it's coming from," Bartz says. "If it was blended under an aflatoxin blending waiver, be aware that you cannot feed it to dairy animals or young swine and beef, and you will have to sign a written statement from the seller that you will not do
so."
The aflatoxin waivers have been approved in Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Nebraska and Oklahoma by the federal government. Bartz says farmers buying whole-kernel corn from any of those states with FDA aflatoxin blending waivers need to take precautions to avoid feeding livestock corn with dangerous
levels of aflatoxin.
"Not every load of corn from these states will have been blended under a waiver, but if you're buying corn sourced from one of those states, you need to ask," he notes.
Normally corn containing aflatoxin above certain levels cannot be used in animal feeds. However, because of this year's corn shortages, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted blending waivers to the six states. For a limited time, elevators in these states are allowed to blend corn that has high levels of
aflatoxin with "clean" corn to produce a batch with acceptable levels.
The resulting blended corn is allowed for use in feeds for mature poultry, breeding swine, finishing swine over 100 pounds, breeding beef cattle and finishing beef cattle. It cannot be used in feed for dairy animals or young livestock, and it must carry a precautionary statement that lists acceptable uses, including species and age or size of animals that it may be fed to.
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