Farm Forum~Dead deer linked to mold in corn

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Dead deer linked to mold in corn

Published: Dec 10, 2009 12:00 am - _0_ (http://www.farmforum.net/user/55)

By Tom Hintgen

Fergus Falls Daily Journal, Minn.

Dec. 9 — Dead deer found in corn fields near Wee Town and Vergas have been

linked to mold in corn. However, much of the mold in Otter Tail County is

not highly toxic.

Some experts say that dead deer in corn fields may, in fact, be the result

of not only deer eating corn but also the deer not getting enough forage

in their diets. Many white-tailed deer diets revolve around an alfalfa

forage base.

" No matter what the cause, we want to know about dead deer that are

found, " said Don Schultz, Area Wildlife Supervisor for the Minnesota Department

of Natural Resources (DNR), based in Fergus Falls.

Schultz said he’s heard from farmers in the Foxhome area about blue and

green mold in corn, not highly toxic.

Health officials throughout the state say that it’s the red or pink mold

that’s toxic. Corn must contain aflatoxin in order to be considered deadly

to humans or animals

Across the state border, to the west, 60 dead deer were reported in fields

in north central North Dakota.

Thus far the Federal Grain Inspection in North Dakota has not found any

corn that actually contains aflatoxin. This (aflatoxin) refers to any group

of toxic compounds produced by certain molds, especially Aspergillus flavus.

Many strains produce significant quantities of acutely toxic compounds.

The mold that’s oftentimes showing up in parts of Minnesota and North

Dakota is surface mold. Most, if not all of it, comes off when combined and/or

dried.

Some state officials say that many dead deer in corn fields comes about

because the deer -- while not getting any forage mixed in with their diets --

causes them to basically purge themselves with corn and eat themselves to

death.

People finding dead deer in fields and elsewhere are requested to contact

Schultz at the DNR office in Fergus Falls (739-7576, Ext. 228).