DON (Vomitoxin)

Chemical formula for Vomitoxin, C15H20O6
Molecular Weight: 296.32 g/mol

Deoxynivalenol (DON, also known as Vomitoxin) is a sesquiterpene compound found in Fusarium graminearum (roseum), F. culmorum, and other species. As one of the most common mycotoxins, DON often occurs in many plant products, particularly in cereal crops such as wheat, corn, barley, oats and rice.

In higher levels and more advanced stages of contamination, the symptoms linked to vomitoxin are much more severe and include abdominal pain, dizziness, headache, throat irritation, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and blood loss with stools. In animals DON contaminated feed has led to feed refusal, and vomiting or diarrhea leading to growth depression. DON testing provides an important preventative tool for keeping production animals healthy and productive.

U.S. FDA advisory levels for DON are as follows:

1. Class of Animal : Ruminating beef and feedlot cattle older than 4 months
2. Feed & Portion of the Diet : Ruminating beef and feedlot cattle older than 4 months Grain and grain by-products not to exceed 50% of the diet
3. DON Levels in Grains & Grain By-products and (finished feed) : 10 ppm (5 ppm)
4. Class of Animal : Chickens
5. Feed & Portion of the Diet : Grain and grain byproducts not to exceed 50% of the diet
6. DON Levels in Grains & Grain By-products and (finished feed) : 10 ppm (5 ppm)
7. Class of Animal : Swine
8. Feed & Portion of the Diet : Grain and grain by-products not to exceed 20% of the diet
9. DON Levels in Grains & Grain By-products and (finished feed) : 5 ppm (1 ppm)
10. Class of Animal : All other animals
11. Feed & Portion of the Diet : Grain and grain by-products not to exceed 40% of the diet
12. DON Levels in Grains & Grain By-products and (finished feed) : 5 ppm (2ppm)

A list of currently available CD DON (Vomitoxin) products can be downloaded here.