Volume: 1, 2022
1st International PhD Student’s Conference at the University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Poland: ENVIRONMENT – PLANT – ANIMAL – PRODUCT
Abstract number: A008
DOI: https://doi.org/10.24326/ICDSUPL1.A008
Published online: 26 April 2022
ICDSUPL, 1, A008 (2022)
The effect of zearalenone and deoxynivalenol on dairy cows
Rimvydas Falkauskas1*, Violeta Baliukonienė1, Bronius Bakutis1, Jurgita Jovaišienė1, Gintarė Vaičiulienė1, Gediminas Gerulis1
1 Department of Food Safety and Quality, Faculty of Veterinary, Veterinary Academy of Lithuanian University of Health Sciences; Tilzes 18, LT-47181, Kaunas, Lithuania
* Corresponding author: rimvydas.falkauskas@lsmuni.lt
Abstract
At present, more than 70% of the daily ration of dairy cows consists of concentrated feed possibly contaminated by more than one leading mycotoxin. Mycotoxins are damaging many organ systems, for example, deoxynivalenol (DON) inhibits protein synthesis resulting in the greatest damage to protein-synthesizing cells – lymphocytes and liver. Meanwhile zearalenone (ZEN) due to its capacity to bind to estrogen receptors causes more severe reproductive disorders. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of zearalenone (ZEN) and deoxynivalenol (DON) on dairy cows receiving a total mixed ration (TMR) with a combination of zearalenone (ZEN) and deoxynivalenol (DON) mycotoxins for 60 consecutive days. Selected twenty clinically healthy dairy cows received TMR with naturally occurring mycotoxins in feed (ZEN: 300-500 µg/kg; DON: 102-200 µg/kg). During the study, it was observed milk yield and qualitative parameters, such as blood biochemical and morphological parameters, rumen volatile fatty acids (VFAs), ZEN and DON concentration in rumen fluid and milk. The experiment was divided into 3 phases at 30-day intervals. Blood, gastric content, and milk samples were taken during each phase. The results demonstrated that the combination of mycotoxins ZEN and DON had an effect on liver and kidney enzymes (p <0.05) as ALP 60 day increased by 25%, ALB 60 day decreased by 8.7%, CREA 60 day decreased by 40% compared to 0 day. There was a statistically significant increase in NH3-N and a decrease in acetate acid in the 60 day. The combination of mycotoxins ZEN and DON significantly reduced milk yield (20.8%), fat (11.8%) and protein (3.5%) in the 60 day. ZEN concentration increased from 0.97 µg/L (20 days) to 1.43 µg/L (60 days) in milk samples. Based on the results of the study, it was found that the combination of Fusarium mycotoxins found in feed produced in Lithuanian climatic conditions reliably affected certain physiological parameters of dairy cows.
How to cite
R. Falkauskas, V. Baliukonienė, B. Bakutis, J. Jovaišienė, G. Vaičiulienė, G. Gerulis, 2022. The effect of zearalenone and deoxynivalenol on dairy cows. In: 1st International PhD Student’s Conference at the University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Poland: Environment – Plant – Animal – Product. https://doi.org/10.24326/ICDSUPL1/A008