Ochratoxin A:Carryover from animal feed into livestock and the mitigation strategies

This review aims to highlight the effects of ochratoxin A(OTA)in the feed of meat-producing animals.The accumulation of OTA in feed and its distribution in various farm animals were compared and evaluated.Primarily,the oral administration of OTA-contaminated feed and the predisposition in an animal's vital organ were critically examined in this work.The collated reports show that OTA directly associated with endemic nephropathy and its high concentration leads to degeneration of liver cells,and necrosis of intestinal and lymphoid tissues.At present,limited reports are available in the recent liter-ature on the problems and consequences of OTA in feed.Therefore,this review focused on the OTA carryover from feed to farm animals and the interaction of its secondary metabolites on their biochemical parameters.Hence,this report provides greater insights into animal health related to OTA residues in meat and meat products.This article also explores mitigation strategies that can be used to prevent the carryover effects of OTA in livestock feeds and the effects in the food chain.

Browse silage as potential feed for captive wild ungulates in southern Africa:A review

The objective of the review was to assess the potential of indigenous browse trees as sustainable feed supplement in the form of silage for captive wild ungulates.Several attempts to use silage as feed in zoos in temperate regions have been conducted with success.Information on silage from the indigenous browse trees preferred by wild ungulates in southern Africa is scanty.The use of silage from the browse trees is of interest as it has potential to reduce or replace expensive feed sources(pellets,fruits and farm produce) currently offered in southern African zoos,game farms and reserves,especially during the colddry season.Considerable leaf biomass from the indigenous browse trees can be produced for silage making.High nutrient content and minerals from indigenous browsable trees are highly recognised.Indigenous browse trees have low water-soluble carbohydrates(WSC) that render them undesirable for fermentation.Techniques such as wilting browse leaves,mixing cereal crops with browse leaves,and use of additives such as urea and enzymes have been studied extensively to increase WSC of silage from the indigenous browse trees.Anti-nutritional factors from the indigenous browse preferred by the wild ungulates have also been studied extensively.Indigenous browse silages are a potential feed resource for the captive wild ungulates.If the browse trees are used to make silage,they are likely to improve performance of wild ungulates in captivity,especially during the cold-dry season when browse is scarce.Research is needed to assess the feasibility of sustainable production and the effective use of silage from indigenous browse trees in southern Africa.Improving intake and nutrient utilisation and reducing the concentrations of anti-nutritional compounds in silage from the indigenous browse trees of southern Africa should be the focus for animal nutrition research that need further investigation.