Aim: Develop a feed additive that can modify and detoxify deoxynivalenol (DON)
High levels of the mycotoxin DON occur regularly in Norwegian grains, particularly in oats, depending on the climate conditions during the growth season. Especially in years with considerable rain falls, elevated levels of DON can be expected because the humid conditions favour the occurrence of DON-producing, crop-infecting fungi. Unprocessed grains with DON levels above the maximum allowed levels (e.g. 1750 µg DON/kg oats with husk; EU Commission Regulation 2024/1022) cannot be used in feed and food processing because DON exposure can lead to numerous adverse health effects. Thus, finished pig feed cannot contain more than 900 µg DON/kg (2006/576/EC), while the Norwegian National Feed Safety Authority even recommends a lower maximum acceptable level of 500 µg DON/kg. Aiming at reducing the volume of Norwegian grain discarded from feed production each year, the project DONDetox explored the possibilities of blending additives into the feed that have the capacity to break down DON into non-toxic degradation products. Oats containing a high level of DON were mixed with the additives sodium carbonate, sodium sulphite or the commercial product DONDetoxcontaining sodium carbonate and cysteine, and pelleted. The pellets were stored for up to three weeks and DON levels measured, showing considerable DON reduction connected to the individual additives, but also as a result of the pelleting process.
Led by Kjeller Innovasjon, cooperation project with Norwegian and Swedish feed producers
Project period: 2015-2018