The effects of rumen fluid on the content of zearalenone in animal fodder.

The object of the study was to clarify whether rumination has a bearing on the decomposition of zearalenone in the metabolism of the toxin or not. The experiment was performed using rumen fluid in vitro. Rumen fluid samples containing various amounts of zearalenone were incubated in a carbon dioxide atmosphere at 38 degrees C for two days. The zearalenone content was determined by liquid chromatography after 0, 4, 24 and 48 hours incubation periods. The incubation of 4 hours decreased the toxin content by 11%, that of 24 h by 29% and that of 48 h by 37.5% on average. These results indicate that the quantity of zearalenone and the quality of rumen fluid have effects on the ratio of the toxin decomposed.