Mycotoxins have an estimated $5 billion (USD) impact on the U.S. and Canadian food animal industries annually. Recent trends in mycotoxin results have indicated this year’s crops may be some of the most challenged in the last five years. At Cargill’s laboratory in Elk River, Minn., we have seen indications of widespread deoxynivalenol and fumonisin this year. Meaningful incidences of aflatoxin and zearalenone in some regions are also noteworthy.

Mycotoxins are difficult to sample and measure, so understanding the extent of mycotoxin challenges in feed ingredient sources and effective mitigation tactics for specific mycotoxins is imperative for the commercial success of affected animal production operations.

A good defense is your best offense! The first line of defense against mycotoxins should be using all practical efforts to reduce animal exposure to mycotoxins.

First line of defense

Use practical efforts to reduce animal exposure to mycotoxins by minimizing usage of suspect ingredients in diets for young pigs and sows. Seek available mycotoxin surveys of your area to understand general mycotoxin risks in regional and local grain and byproduct supplies and ingredients. These reports can provide a guide to understand which toxins may be a risk for your enterprise.

Further mitigation tactics should include the following steps.

The most common mycotoxins are aflatoxin, deoxynivalenol (also known as DON, vomitoxin), zearalenone and fumonisin. With wet harvest conditions in some parts of the United States in 2016, we are seeing an increasing number of ingredient samples with high levels of DON. There have been a number of incidences of zearalenone in these affected areas, as well. Fumonisin and aflatoxin levels are higher in the southern half of the U.S., especially where drought or heat stress has occurred at key points in the growing cycle. When determining mycotoxin testing and mitigation plans, watch for key symptoms associated with each of these mycotoxins.

Aflatoxin

Aflatoxin is a highly toxic mycotoxin that decreases performance and overall animal well-being. While avoiding the use of feed materials with aflatoxin levels above 20 parts per billion for pigs and sows and 100 ppb for finishing pigs is legally required, even low levels of aflatoxin can enhance the impact of other mycotoxins.

Symptoms of aflatoxin consumption include:

At high levels (>1,000 ppb), acute signs include slab-sided pigs, depression, difficulty walking and death.

Deoxynivalenol

Deoxynivalenol is a relatively common mycotoxin, especially in the northern half of the U.S. and in Canada.

Symptoms of DON consumption include:

Zearalenone

Also known as the reproductive mycotoxin, zearalenone and related compounds are most harmful for the breeding herd. Their estrogenic effects produce a range of changes to the reproductive tract that can disrupt reproductive performance. When zearalenone risk is known, it is advisable to monitor grain and grain byproducts being used in sow and boar diets, and to eliminate any known contaminated ingredients from the diets of reproducing animals. Zearalenone is often found in conjunction with DON and/or Gibberella ear rot in corn.

Symptoms of Zearalenone consumption include:

Fumonisin

Fumonisin can be found in corn-producing areas throughout the United States, but is most common in the southern half of the U.S. Fumonisin is relatively low in toxicity for swine, requiring multiple parts per million before causing an effect. True fumonisin poisoning usually presents as “sudden death” in growing pigs with good body condition, but poisoning is only likely to occur when the diet contains over 100 ppm of fumonisin. Fumonisin seems to be more problematic in combination with other toxins, especially aflatoxin.

Symptoms of fumonisin consumption include:

 Managing mycotoxin risks through nutrition

Understanding mycotoxin risks by following regional survey results, monitoring ingredients, managing suspect ingredients and employing mitigation tactics is essential for productive and profitable operations. Working with your nutrition team to determine the best measures for managing mycotoxins will be key when feeding crops grown in 2016 to livestock. Assistance can include formulation and nutrition solutions. PROMOTE additives are part of the nutrition solutions provided by Cargill, Provimi and Citura.

PROMOTE is a comprehensive line of feed additives and unique services serving the livestock and poultry industries. Contact your Cargill, Provimi or Citura salesperson for more information on PROMOTE additives or call our PROMOTE Customer Service representatives at 866-202-9889.

Don Giesting

Promote Additive Leader

Cargill Premix and Nutrition

C: 651-236-0418

O: 952-984-0468

[email protected]