**5. Conclusions**

Of the 31 samples with two mycotoxins, in decreasing order, the incidence was: 6.66% (7 samples) for AF + OTA combination, 5.71% (6 samples) for OTA + T-2 combination, 4.76% (5 samples) for OTA + DON and AF + T-2 combination, 3.80% (4 samples) for OTA + ZEA combination and 0.95% (1 samples) for ZEA + DON; ZEA + T-2; DON + T-2 and AF + ZEA combination.

Of the 29 samples with three mycotoxins, in decreasing order, the incidence was: 6.66% (7 samples) for OTA + ZEA + DON combination, 3.80% (4 samples) for OTA + DON + T-2; AF + OTA + DON and OTA + ZEA + T-2; 2.85% (3 samples) for AF + ZEA + T-2 and 1.90% (2

Of the 10 samples with four mycotoxins, in decreasing order, the incidence was: 3.80% (4 samples) for AF + OTA + ZEA + DON + T-2 combination; 2.85% (3 samples) for AF + OTA + DON + T-2 combination; 1.90% (2 samples) for OTA + ZEA + DON + T-2 combination, and 0.95% (1 sam-

Of the three samples with five mycotoxins, the incidence was 2.85% (3 samples) for

Prevention of mycotoxin contamination of feed should start from the field, especially since the climatic condition indicate possible crops contamination with mycotoxigenic fungi: drought or heavy rain, aggression of harmful insects, other stress situations for plants (application of treatments, for example). A mycological and mycotoxicological analysis of feed at this stage would be indicated and would provide accurate and important information for subsequent

Also, the fungal growth and mycotoxin production conditions are not the same. Thus, *Aspergillus spp*. grows at a higher temperature and lower aw compared to *Fusarium spp*.; the

and drought stress associated with warmer climates and, furthermore, is enhanced by insect action both before and after harvesting. In fact, *Fusarium spp.* is one of the genres of fungi that develops both pre-harvest and post-harvest. On the other hand, fungal growth and association with Alimentary Toxic Aleukia has the best conditions at 25–30°C while the production of mycotoxins by *Fusarium* is not favored under this conditions; the opposite effect, strongly mycotoxigen, although fungi do not have a high growth rate, is observed at near-freezing temperatures [56]. Similar situations can be also observed when applying fungicides that

During the storage period, maintaining optimum conditions: less than 14% humidity in the feed, creating optimal conditions for silage - quickly reducing pH and elimination of oxygen, microbial or enzymatic silage additives, may partially inhibit the development of mycotoxigenic fungi or reduce their ability to produce mycotoxins. However, if contaminated feed is still in the animal feed, a dilution of it with healthy fodder is recommended. A number of mycotoxinadsorbing agents can also be used as food supplements: sodium and calcium aluminosilicates, bentonites, montmorillonites, zeolite, some organic polymers (polysaccharides, glucomannans, peptidoglicans, etc.), activated carbons, yeast cell walls, micronized fibers, bacteria. As

by *Aspergillus flavus* in corn, for example, is favored by heat

samples) for AF + OTA + ZEA; AF + DON + T-2 and AF + OTA + T-2 combination.

ple) for AF + ZEA + DON + T-2 combination.

98 Ruminants - The Husbandry, Economic and Health Aspects

AF + OTA + ZEA + DON + T-2 combination.

prevention actions (during storage and feeding animals).

and AFB<sup>2</sup>

reduce the growth of fungi but not the mycotoxins [57].

**4. Prevention and treatment**

production of AFB1

The increase and diversification in the production of fodder, particularly cereal, through new technologies has direct consequences on the change in their chemical composition and, implicitly, over the growth and development of fungi before the harvest, during the transportation or during the storage of fodder. Moldy feed has reduced palatability, which certainly determines reduced ingestion and implicitly a drop in milk production and, afterwards, in corporeal weight. There are unanimously accepted losses of 5–10% of the performances of milk cows under the condition that they ingested fungi contaminated fodder, irrespective of the latters' contamination with mycotoxins. Mold growth and mycotoxin production are strongly linked with the action of certain predisposing factors such as extreme weather conditions (draught followed by rain, for example), the favoring action of harmful insects and can be produced in the field, during transport, processing or even while the fodder is administrated to the animal. The risk of affecting the health of ruminants due to the action of mycotoxins is much larger compared to that of the action of fungi. Among the mycotoxins that can affect the health of milk cows and, implicitly the reduction in production, aflatoxins are certainly the most aggressive. The risk is proportionally higher with their metabolites, as aggressive as them, reaching the milk production and affecting human health.
