Because of the presence of rumen microorganisms, ruminants may be less sensitive to dietary
DON concentrations than monogastrics, especially swine. Therefore, alternative uses for grains
contaminated with DON beyond levels permitted for human consumption may be found as feed
ingredients for ruminant animals. Additionally, results from these and earlier surveys (Reynolds
et al., 1983; Price et al., 1993) indicate that DON concentrations beyond advisory levels for dairy
or beef cattle occur in only 2 to 18% of the samples surveyed. Similar results were reported for
other toxins. No ochratoxin was found in interstate traffic surveillance for 168 samples (45% corn)
between 1989 and 1992 (Price et al., 1993). Also, of 161 samples tested for ZEN during the same
period, 92% were negative, and 12 samples contained only between .07 and .15 ppm ZEN.