Exposure of game birds to ochratoxin A through supplemental feeds

Thirty randomly selected game bird feeders were sampled at 25-33-day intervals from November 1996 to March 1997 to quantitate ochratoxin A concentrations in supplemental feed. Monthly mean ochratoxin A concentration of grain in feeders was 8.3 ± 0.8 ppb (n = 167). Ochratoxin A concentrations from individual feeders ranged from <5 to 109.9 ppb, levels that have not been demonstrated to negatively affect game birds in a laboratory environment. Stress may increase the chance of ochratoxin-induced mortality or morbidity for wild game birds. Only mean relative humidity was significantly correlated with monthly mean ochratoxin A concentration.