Feed Wheat and Barley

[TOM4CWB]

Charlie,

Talking to a friend in Manitoba last night revealed a big quality problem in the livestock feed grains in the eastern prairies!

Just what percentage of the wheat and barley is recked for livestock consumption?

How much vomitoxin is allowed in pig food, and how much in human consumption grains?

I suspect big time blending will happen this year, how far west does this problem come?

I hear of piles of this wheat on the ground, winter wheat appearently didn't escape this problem!!

WHEN will we wake up and allow IP production of fusarium resistance wheat, instead of leaving it on the shelf and crucifying our farmers?????

[bbrindle]

When talking about fusarium problems there are a few steps:
- the presence of Fusarium graminearum - the casaul agent fungus -- this is what Alberta is concerned about and is monitoring in Alberta production, testing seed etc.
- fusarium head blight which can lead to fusarium damaged kernels (FDK) which reduces yield and quality
- production of deoxy... (I'm not going to try and spell it)=DON (or vomatoxin) which can drastically affect the marketability of the grain

The CGC allows a certain level of FDK in some grades. Check that out at www.cgc.ca You'll see it listed on the left column and that will link you to lots of info including the grade tolerances (about 0.25% FDK in #1). I would think that very a low level of FDK would effectively mean zero tolerance for DON in milling grades. In some years the CWB has had special fusarium programs to allow farmers to deliver higher amounts and blend in higher levels. Maybe Tom H can fill in more here.

At the CGC site is where you will find the maps showing the westward progression of F. graminearum -- the casaul agent, not the DON -- its important to recognize the difference.

Only 1 ppm of DON can result in reduced feed consumption in non-ruminants. So the feedmill industry, even in Alberta, closely monitor that. Adult beef cattle can tolerate somewhat higher levels of DON. Ag Canada guidelines are 1 ppm for swine, dairy cattle and horses and 5 ppm for beef cattle, sheep and poultry. Some feeders in Alberta will say they want "no vomi" or under 5 ppm DON.

Malt companies have zero to very low tolerance because DON can cause the beer to gush or excess foaming. Bread making is also affected.

AAFRD put out a media release in late August alerting the livestock industry in Alberta to be fusarium aware when buying feed from the eastern prairies..
With regards to your question -- I don't know the percentage actually rejected because I suspect in the end it gets mixed with other feed and is fed to cattle. However estimates are that Manitoba loses over $50 million annually on wheat and barley due to loss of yield and access to some markets especially malt and hog feed.

I would agree that there could be "big time blending" this year.

I also think kernel visual distinguishability, biotechnology, identity preservation, fusarium resistant varieties, round up ready wheat ... are all intertwined and are/will be THE major issue for the grain industry for the next year or two.

[wedino]

Tom4cwb, VOM = 1.9 & 1.2 on 2 lots of barley I produced this year. Lost .20/bu since hog feeders (& maltsters)will not accept barley with this level of vom. This is the first time i've had problems with vom. Weyburn Estevan area.

[TOM4CWB]

Wedino,

What tolerance is acceptable for feed wheat and feed barley for vom, without being charged the discount?

I have heard of feed wheat at .08ppm vom. still not being accepted under a non-board feed wheat contract!

Could someone clarify what the actual standards are?

[TOM4CWB]

Sorry, I meant .8ppm vomatoxin

[wedino]

Hi Tom4cwb, Max vom in malt barley = .5
Max for hog feed = 1
Max for cattle feed = 5
My understanding when cattle feeders talk of 0 vomi they mean 5 PPMM or less. Not sure about vom levels in wheat.