Annual Reports on Surveillance and Monitoring for Harmful Chemical Substances in Animal Feed (in the fiscal year 2015)
1 Mycotoxins
A total of 204 formula feed samples and 242 feed ingredient samples of 59 types was subjected to monitoring program conducted by FAMIC (Food and Agricultural Materials Inspection Center) for 26 mycotoxins. The results of monitoring for aflatoxin B1, deoxynivalenol and zearalenone regulated by the guiding tolerance of toxic substances from April 2015 to March 2016 are summarized as follows.
1.1 Aflatoxin B1
A total of 188 formula feed samples was analyzed for aflatoxin B1. The highest value was 0.002 mg/kg in formula feed for cattles (intended neither to suckling calves nor to milking cows). No sample exceeded the standard values (0.01 mg/kg for growing animals and milking cow, 0.02 mg/kg for the other livestocks) set by MAFF (the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries) (hereinafter the same).
A total of 234 feed ingredient samples was analyzed for aflatoxin B1. Aflatoxin B1 was detected mainly from by-products of corn and grain, and soybean meal. The highest values in each feed ingredient were as follows:
0.003 mg/kg in the domestic corn gluten meal,
0.002 mg/kg in the domestic corn gluten feed,
0.003 mg/kg in corn imported from the Brazil and
0.0007 mg/kg in the domestic soybean meal.
1.2 Deoxynivalenol
A total of 188 formula feed samples was analyzed for deoxynivalenol. The highest value was 1.5 mg/kg in formula feed for milking cows. No sample exceeded the standard values (4 mg/kg for the cattle (over 3-month-old), 1 mg/kg for the other livestocks).
A total of 234 feed ingredient samples was analyzed for deoxynivalenol. Deoxynivalenol was detected mainly from by-products of corn and grain, wheat bran, milo, corn, barley, soybean meal and defatted rice bran. The highest values in each feed ingredient were as follows:
2.1 mg/kg in corn distillers' dried grain and solubles (DDGS) imported from the USA,
5.8 mg/kg in the domestic corn gluten feed,
1.5 mg/kg in the domestic wheat bran,
2.8 mg/kg in the domestic corn gluten meal,
0.28 mg/kg in milo imported from the USA,
0.71 mg/kg in corn imported from the USA,
0.050 mg/kg in barley imported from Romania,
0.053 mg/kg in the domestic soybean meal and
0.11 mg/kg in the domestic defatted rice bran.
1.3 Zearalenone
A total of 188 formula feed samples was analyzed for zearalenone. The highest value was 0.31 mg/kg in formula feed for milking cows. No sample exceeded the standard value (1 mg/kg).
A total of 234 feed ingredient samples was analyzed for zearalenone. Zearalenone was detected mainly from by-products of corn and grain, milo, soybean meal, by-products of rice and grain, wheat bran and barley. The highest values in each ingredient were as follows:
0.58 mg/kg in the domestic corn gluten meal,
1.1 mg/kg in milo imported from the USA,
0.29 mg/kg in corn DDGS imported from the USA,
0.26 mg/kg in corn imported from the USA,
0.41 mg/kg in the domestic corn gluten feed,
0.017 mg/kg in the domestic soybean meal,
0.011 mg/kg in the domestic defatted rice bran,
0.033 mg/kg in the domestic brown rice,
0.028 mg/kg in the domestic wheat bran and
0.008 mg/kg in barley imported from Russia.
2 Heavy metals
A total of 131 formula feed samples and 75 feed ingredient samples such as fish meal was subjected to monitoring program conducted by FAMIC for cadmium, lead, arsenic and mercury, which were established the standard value by MAFF.
2.1 Cadmium
A total of 120 formula feed samples was analyzed for cadmium. The highest value was 0.26 mg/kg in formula feed for layers. No sample exceeded the standard value (1 mg/kg).
A total of 64 feed ingredient samples was analyzed for cadmium. The highest value was 2.1 mg/kg in the domestic fish meal. No sample exceeded the standard value (3 mg/kg).
2.2 Lead
A total of 120 formula feed samples was analyzed for lead. The highest value was 1.9 mg/kg in formula feed for growing heifers and formula feed for breeding beef cows. No sample exceeded the standard value (3 mg/kg).
A total of 64 feed ingredient samples was analyzed for lead. The highest value was 3.4 mg/kg in the domestic fish meal. No sample exceeded the standard value (7 mg/kg).
2.3 Mercury
A total of 127 formula feed samples was analyzed for mercury. The highest value was 0.08 mg/kg in formula feed for layers. No sample exceeded the standard value (0.4 mg/kg).
A total of 69 feed ingredient samples was analyzed for mercury. The highest value was 0.50 mg/kg in the domestic fish meal. No sample exceeded the standard value (1 mg/kg).
2.4 Arsenic
A total of 30 formula feed samples was analyzed for arsenic. The highest value was 0.57 mg/kg in formula feed for layers. No sample exceeded the standard value (2 mg/kg).
One rice straw sample imported from China was analyzed for arsenic. The value was 2.7 mg/kg (the standard value: 7 mg/kg).
A total of 24 fish meals was analyzed for arsenic. The highest value was 6.7 mg/kg in the domestic fish meal. No sample exceeded the standard value (15 mg/kg).
3 Agricultural chemicals
Formula feed and feed ingredient samples were subjected to the monitoring program conducted by FAMIC for a total of 50248 data for 130 agricultural chemicals. One sample exceeded the maximum residue limit of cyhalothrin (600 µg/kg) set by MAFF and the value was 1900 µg/kg in alfalfa hay imported from the USA.
For formula feed, a total of 167 samples was tested for 123 agricultural chemicals.
As a result, the following five agricultural chemicals were detected:
Pirimiphos-methyl was detected in 35 samples and the highest value was 470 µg/kg.
Chlorpyrifos-methyl was detected in 15 samples and the highest value was 385 µg/kg.
Chlorpyrifos was detected in two samples and the highest value was 47 µg/kg.
Chlorpropham was detected in one formula feed for suckling piglets and the value was 86 µg/kg.
Malathion was detected in one formula feed for milking cows and the value was 44 µg/kg.
For feed ingredients, a total of 248 samples was tested for 130 agricultural chemicals.
As a result, the following 21 agricultural chemicals were detected:
Pirimiphos-methyl was detected in 21 samples and the highest value was 1000 µg/kg in corn imported from Brazil.
Chlorpyrifos-methyl was detected in nine samples and the highest value was 1600 µg/kg in milo imported from Argentina.
Malathion was detected in eight samples and the highest value was 230 µg/kg in the domestic wheat bran.
Glyphosate was detected in eight samples and the highest value was 2250 µg/kg in the domestic soybean meal.
Glufosinate was detected in six samples and the highest value was 165 µg/kg in the domestic soybean meal.
Bifenthrin was detected in five samples and the highest value was 100 µg/kg in corn imported from Brazil.
Chlorpyrifos was detected in four samples and the highest value was 130 µg/kg in Kleingrass hay imported from the USA.
Cyhalothrin was detected in three samples and the highest value was 1900 µg/kg in alfalafa hay imported from the USA.
Deltamethrin was detected in three samples and the highest value was 160 µg/kg in milo imported from Argentina.
Fenitrothion was detected in three samples and the highest value was 45 µg/kg in corn imported from Brazil.
Permethrin was detected in two samples and the highest value was 440 µg/kg in Sudangrass hay imported from the USA.
Tebuconazole was detected in two samples and the highest value was 2400 µg/kg in oat hay imported from Australia.
Propiconazole was detected in two samples and the highest value was 4700 µg/kg in perennial ryegrass straw imported from the USA.
Pendimethalin was detected in two samples and the highest value was 6300 µg/kg in alfalfa hay imported from the USA.
Dimethoate was detected in one samples and the value was 370 µg/kg in alfalafa hay imported from the USA.
Diazinon was detected in one samples and the value was 529 µg/kg in corn cob meal imported from Vietnam.
Methoprene was detected in one samples and the value was 22 µg/kg in the domestic wheat bran.
Atrazine was detected in one samples and the value was 85 µg/kg in Sudangrass hay imported from the USA.
Chlorthal-dimethyl was detected in one samples and the value was 41 µg/kg in Sudangrass hay imported from the USA.
Difenoconazole was detected in one samples and the value was 130 µg/kg in Sudangrass hay imported from the USA.
Trifluralin was detected in one samples and the value was 37 µg/kg in Kleingrass hay imported from the USA.
4 Other contaminants
4.1 Melamine
A total of 15 samples of formula feed was analyzed for melamine. The highest value was 0.06 mg/kg in formula feed for growing Japanese trouts. No sample exceeded the standard value (2.5 mg/kg).
A total of 18 samples of fish meal was analyzed for melamine. The highest value was 0.16 mg/kg in the domestic fish meal. No sample exceeded the standard value (2.5 mg/kg).
4.2 Nitrate form nitrogen
A total of 14 hay samples, including seven of Sudangrass, six of alfalfa and one of Kleingrass hay was analyzed for nitrate form nitrogen. The highest values of each type of hay were 660 mg/kg in Sudangrass imported from the USA, 900 mg/kg in alfalfa imported from the USA and 46 mg/kg in Kleingrass hay imported from the USA. When hays containing nitrate form nitrogen exceeding 1000 mg/kg are used for feeding, the following guideline should be referred and pay special attention to the handling of the grass.
