Mycological Survey of Animal Feeds Used in Norway

Abstract
A mycological survey was carried out on samples of compound animal feed of good quality in order to collect information regarding the occurrence of mould species with special reference to the genera Aspergillus, Penicillium and Fusarium. Seventy-two samples of standard swine feed, and 75 samples of hen feed were examined. The number of colony-forming units of moulds per gram varied from 1x103 to 2.5x105, with a mean of 3.6x104. Twenty-nine species of Penicillium were demonstrated, among which Penicillium aurantiogriseum (Dierckx), Penicillium melanochlorum (comb. nov. Frisvad), Penicillium viridicatum (Westling) and Penicillium puberulum (Bain.) were represented most commonly. The frequencies of six Penicillium spp. were significantly different in the two categories of feed. Six Fusarium spp. were demonstrated among which Fusarium moniliforme and Fusarium poae were the most frequent. Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus candidus were the aspergilli most frequently found in the samples of hen feed.