Measuring the economic impacts of Fusarium toxins in animal feeds

Economic impacts of mycotoxins in animal feed are difficult to measure, because information regarding animal illnesses and productivity losses due to chronic low-level exposures have been largely anecdotal. The current paper presents an original economic model that takes the first steps in measuring the various impacts of Fusarium toxins in animal feed. Two different categories of losses are considered: losses related to animal health, and trade losses related to grain rejection in the marketplace. Of animal health losses, both mortalities and morbidities are considered. The relevant trade losses concern impacts in both the domestic and international feed grain markets. A case study regarding fumonisin in US maize intended for animal feed is presented. It is estimated that in a normal year (without a significant Fusarium ear rot outbreak), the losses due to fumonisin in animal feed would total US$ 1–20 million. In a year with a significant Fusarium ear rot outbreak, losses would total US$ 31–46 million. The economic model presented here provides a framework by which farmers, grain handlers, and diverse policymakers may be able to analyze economic losses due to mycotoxins in feed grain.