Research on the Degree of Fungal Contamination of Corn Silage and Corn Grains

Abstract

Mycological investigations were performed on feed samples (corn silage, corn grains) from a zootechnical farm in the area of Moldova, in order to determine the degree of fungal contamination during two seasons (cold season, hot season). The two categories of feed consisted of a number of 30 determinations / sample, so the corn silage was mostly contaminated by Aspergillus spp - 50% and Penicillium spp, Fusarium spp - 25% while the corn grains had a fungal load of 40% with Fusarium spp and 23.8% with Mucor spp. The purpose for which the feed samples were collected for mycological analysis is important for both producers and processors; these analyzes try to indirectly monitor the fungal activity in the respective substrates by achieving ecological conditions that prevent the multiplication of micromycetes (aeration, maintaining a low temperature, reducing the humidity gradient). The mycological examination showed that the level of micromycete contamination of the vegetal substrates subjected to the analyzes did not exceed the maximum limit allowed by the European legislation.

Keywords

• corn grains
• corn silage
• contamination
• feed
• fungi