While the equine feed market offers a wide range of products tailored to different nutritional needs, feedstuffs can also carry contaminants such as fungal and bacterial toxins. Limited knowledge of how frequently such contamination occurs prompted researchers to investigate exposure levels and their possible health implications.
The study analysed 108 horse feed samples from EU suppliers, spanning hay, processed roughage, grains, and supplementary feeds. Each sample was screened for more than 1,200 compounds, including mycotoxins, phytoestrogens, pesticides, and veterinary drug residues, using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry.
Findings showed contamination was highly prevalent: 107 of 108 samples (99%) contained fungal metabolites, with fusarium toxins the most common. Bacterial metabolites were detected in 16% of samples, and veterinary drug residues in a further 16%, though concentrations were generally low.
Processed roughage products, particularly those containing lucerne (alfalfa), had significantly higher concentrations of phytoestrogens and plant toxins compared with hay. Grain-based mueslis and mashes were more likely to contain pesticide and veterinary medication residues. Notably, monensin (an anti-coccidial drug used in poultry feed) and colchicine, both highly toxic to horses, were detected in 10–20% of samples, though at levels considered too low to pose an acute health risk.
The authors conclude that the findings highlight the complexity of biotoxins and chemical residues in equine feeds and emphasise the need for stronger regulation and routine testing to safeguard equine health and welfare.
For more details see:
L.M. Kwaß, R. Khiaosa-ard, Q. Zebeli, M. Sulyok, V. Milojevic, B.U. Metzler-Zebeli,
Exposure of horses to biotoxins, phytoestrogens, and pesticides from different feed materials and supplementary feeds,
Journal of Equine Veterinary Science,(2025) Vol 151,105632,
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