Mixtures of Mycotoxins, Phytoestrogens, and Other Secondary Metabolites in Whole-Plant Corn Silages and Total Mixed Rations of Dairy Farms in Central and Northern Mexico
Felipe Penagos-Tabares,
Michael Sulyok,
Juan-Ignacio Artavia,
Samanta-Irais Flores-Quiroz,
César Garzón-Pérez,
Ezequías Castillo-Lopez,
Luis Zavala,
Juan-David Orozco,
Johannes Faas,
Rudolf Krska,
Qendrim Zebeli
Affiliations
Felipe Penagos-Tabares
Unit of Nutritional Physiology, Institute of Physiology, Pathophysiology, and Biophysics, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria
Michael Sulyok
Department of Agrobiotechnology, IFA-Tulln, Institute of Bioanalytics and Agro-Metabolomics, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Konrad-Lorenz-Strasse 20, 3430 Tulln, Austria
Juan-Ignacio Artavia
DSM-BIOMIN Research Center, Technopark 1, 3430 Tulln, Austria
Samanta-Irais Flores-Quiroz
Facultad de Estudios Superiores Cuautitlán, Cuautitlán, Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Cuautitlán Izcalli 54714, Mexico
César Garzón-Pérez
Facultad de Estudios Superiores Cuautitlán, Cuautitlán, Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Cuautitlán Izcalli 54714, Mexico
Ezequías Castillo-Lopez
Christian-Doppler-Laboratory for Innovative Gut Health Concepts in Livestock (CDL-LiveGUT), Department for Farm Animals and Veterinary Public Health, University of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinaerplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria
Luis Zavala
DSM-BIOMIN Research Center, Technopark 1, 3430 Tulln, Austria
Juan-David Orozco
DSM-BIOMIN Research Center, Technopark 1, 3430 Tulln, Austria
Johannes Faas
DSM-BIOMIN Research Center, Technopark 1, 3430 Tulln, Austria
Rudolf Krska
Department of Agrobiotechnology, IFA-Tulln, Institute of Bioanalytics and Agro-Metabolomics, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Konrad-Lorenz-Strasse 20, 3430 Tulln, Austria
Qendrim Zebeli
Christian-Doppler-Laboratory for Innovative Gut Health Concepts in Livestock (CDL-LiveGUT), Department for Farm Animals and Veterinary Public Health, University of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinaerplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria
Mycotoxins and endocrine disruptors such as phytoestrogens can affect cattle health, reproduction, and productivity. Most studies of mycotoxins in dairy feeds in Mexico and worldwide have been focused on a few (regulated) mycotoxins. In contrast, less known fungal toxins, phytoestrogens, and other metabolites have been neglected and underestimated. This study analyzed a broad spectrum (>800) of mycotoxins, phytoestrogens, and fungal, plant, and unspecific secondary metabolites in whole-plant corn silages (WPCSs) and total mixed rations (TMRs) collected from 19 Mexican dairy farms. A validated multi-metabolite liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization–tandem mass spectrometric (LC/ESI–MS/MS) method was used. Our results revealed 125 of >800 tested (potentially toxic) secondary metabolites. WPCSs/TMRs in Mexico presented ubiquitous contamination with mycotoxins, phytoestrogens, and other metabolites. The average number of mycotoxins per TMR was 24, ranging from 9 to 31. Fusarium-derived secondary metabolites showed the highest frequencies, concentrations, and diversity among the detected fungal compounds. The most frequently detected mycotoxins in TMRs were zearalenone (ZEN) (100%), fumonisin B1 (FB1) (84%), and deoxynivalenol (84%). Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and ochratoxin A (OTA), previously reported in Mexico, were not detected. All TMR samples tested positive for phytoestrogens. Among the investigated dietary ingredients, corn stover, sorghum silage, and concentrate proportions were the most correlated with levels of total mycotoxins, fumonisins (Fs), and ergot alkaloids, respectively.