# A Three-Year Study on the Nutritional Composition and Occurrence of Mycotoxins of Corn Varieties with Different Transgenic Events Focusing on Poultry Nutrition

## TL;DR

This study compares three transgenic corn varieties over three years, finding that higher yield does not always mean better nutrition or lower mycotoxin contamination for poultry feed.

## Contribution

The study provides new empirical insights into how transgenic corn technologies affect nutritional composition and mycotoxin levels in corn used for poultry feed.

## Key findings

- VT PRO3® showed high yield but increased fumonisin contamination and lower nutritional value for poultry.
- PowerCore® ULTRA had lower yield but consistently lower fumonisin levels and higher amino acid content.
- Transgenic corn technologies show distinct impacts on productivity, nutrition, and mycotoxin resistance.

## Abstract

Annually, various corn hybrids are introduced to the market for cultivation. Companies engaged in developing these technologies aim to enhance genetic traits, with a focus on creating productive hybrids capable of addressing the challenges of agriculture. The global corn market predominantly concerns livestock feed production, particularly for poultry farming, which seeks nutrient-rich raw materials with high digestibility for broilers. Nevertheless, when comparing the diverse transgenic technologies of corn, even when cultivated under the same conditions, significant differences were observed. Surprisingly, in the present study, the most productive corn transgenic technology in the field exhibited increased contamination by mycotoxins and a lower content of some important nutrients for poultry. This outcome highlights the critical need for a comprehensive assessment of the implications of transgenic technologies for nutritional composition and agricultural product safety, especially when intended for animal feed. Consequently, we concluded that the integration of nutritional considerations into the genetic improvement of transgenic corn, along with detailed information about resistance to Fusarium, holds great significance and may yield positive outcomes in the future. This approach ensures the production of nutritionally balanced, mycotoxin-safe, and economically viable livestock feed.

Corn is one of the most produced cereals in the world and plays a major role in poultry nutrition. As there is limited scientific information regarding the impact of transgenic technology on the quality and nutrient composition of the grains, this study investigated the effect of three major transgenic corn varieties—VT PRO3®, PowerCore® ULTRA, and Agrisure® Viptera 3—on the field traits, nutrient composition, and mycotoxin contamination of corn grains cultivated in southern Brazil during three consecutive harvests. VT PRO3®, while demonstrating superior crop yield, showed susceptibility to mycotoxins, particularly fumonisins. In contrast, PowerCore® ULTRA, with the lowest yield, consistently exhibited lower levels of fumonisins. VT PRO3® had higher AMEn than the other varieties, while PowerCore® ULTRA had the highest total and digestible amino acid contents over the three years. The study’s comprehensive analysis reveals the distinct impact of transgenic corn technologies on both productivity and nutritional levels. Balancing the crops yield, mycotoxin resistance, and nutritional content of corn is crucial to meet the demands of the poultry feed industry. Such insights are essential for decision-making, ensuring sustainability and efficiency in agricultural production as well as meeting the demands of the poultry industry.