Vet Med - Czech, 2026, 71(5):180-189 | DOI: 10.17221/74/2025-VETMED

From grain to forage: A decade of mycotoxin contamination in ruminant feed in the Czech Republic (2013–2023)Original Paper

J Cahova1, L Kvasnickova1, J Illek2, T Palenik3, A Staffa2, V Vlasakova4, Z Svobodova1, L Ravonjison5, M Svoboda3
1 Department of Animal Protection and Welfare & Veterinary Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Hygiene and Ecology, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
2 Large Animal Clinical Laboratory, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
3 Ruminant and Swine Clinic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
4 State Veterinary Administration Prague, Czech Republic
5 State Veterinary Administration Pardubice, Czech Republic

This study is based on analytical data on mycotoxin contamination in ruminant feeds in the Czech Republic over a ten-year period (2013–2023), specifically deoxynivalenol (DON), zearalenone (ZEN), T-2 toxin (T-2/HT-2), and ochratoxin A (OTA). Analyses were performed in accredited State Veterinary Institutes using validated immunochemical and chromatographic methods. Samples included forage and concentrate feeds for dairy cows, calf feed, and fattening cattle feed. During the monitoring period, DON was detected at higher concentrations, reflecting the susceptibility of field crops to Fusarium infection under local environmental conditions. Forage feeds showed significantly higher concentrations of DON (472.6 ± 13.2 µg/kg), ZEN (61.7 ± 4.4 µg/kg), and T-2/HT-2 toxin (36.7 ± 2.7 µg/kg) than concentrates for dairy cows (P < 0.05). Additionally, ZEN levels differed significantly between concentrates for dairy cows (17.1 ± 2.3 µg/kg) and calf feed (16.2 ± 3.3 µg/kg) (P < 0.05). Although mycotoxin concentrations generally remained below recommended limits, a small proportion of samples exceeded guideline values for DON (0.13%) and ZEN (0.56%). These findings highlight the importance of continued monitoring and preventive strategies to manage mycotoxin risks.

Keywords: cattle; feed; fungal toxins; occurrence pattern

Received: September 26, 2025; Revised: February 13, 2026; Accepted: February 16, 2026; Published: May 27, 2026  Show citation

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Cahova J, Kvasnickova L, Illek J, Palenik T, Staffa A, Vlasakova V, et al.. From grain to forage: A decade of mycotoxin contamination in ruminant feed in the Czech Republic (2013–2023). Veterinární medicína. 2026;71(5):180-189. doi: 10.17221/74/2025-VETMED.
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