Even though mycotoxins are pervasive throughout the world, producers often are not fully aware of the cost to their sow herds. A proactive approach can help make sows resilient against the effects of these contaminants and help restore lost productivity.

Nearly all feed grains worldwide contain mycotoxins, produced by fungi in cereal grains, forages and corn byproducts such as distillers dried grains (DDGS). Researchers have identified more than 400 different mycotoxins. Most common in feeds are aflatoxin (AFLA), deoxynivalenol (DON), fumonisin (FUMO) and zearalenone (ZEA).

Unfortunately, the impact of these mycotoxins is not as simple as 1 + 1 = 2. The additive effect of multiple mycotoxins in a diet is more acute than when a single mycotoxin is present. Mycotoxins can have a cumulative effect, creating an even greater risk of performance loss if the operation's diet contains more than one mycotoxin. This presents challenges for nutritionists working with swine operations.

Although mycotoxins affect all species of livestock and poultry, pigs are particularly sensitive, especially to ZEA and DON. ZEA increases stillbirths and interferes with normal estrus, reducing fertility and farrowing rate. DON, also known as vomitoxin, decreases feed intake and reproductive performance and suppresses immunity. In one study, a combination of DON (5.4 ppm) and ZEA (0.3 ppm) in sow diets resulted in 15 percent stillbirths, compared to 6 percent stillbirths with uncontaminated control diets.1

A ripple effect opens the door for opportunistic diseases that hamper performance and cause higher mortality. In fact, these indirect effects of mycotoxins can be even more damaging than the mycotoxins themselves.

Swine producers and their nutritionists may find it difficult to correlate mycotoxin contamination in feed with poor animal productivity because symptoms are so wide-ranging and often seem unrelated.

Furthermore, due to variability within storage systems, it's difficult to predict mycotoxin load in a ration.

Mycotoxins are secreted by molds that grow in the presence of oxygen and moisture. Feed or grain storage systems may have pockets with higher moisture content or loosely packed areas that set up optimal conditions for molds to proliferate and produce mycotoxins. Samples taken for mycotoxin testing may miss these pockets.

The best approach is to assume mycotoxins are present in feed and make plans to combat them.

Mitigating mycotoxin threats

Producers may rely on binders to counteract mycotoxins. However, these solutions aren't always effective against all types of mycotoxins, especially ZEA. BG-MAX™ from Arm & Hammer Animal and Food Production combines mycotoxin binders with technologies that protect the gut from damage and make animals more resilient against harmful mycotoxin effects.

BG-MAX™ features Refined Functional Carbohydrates™ (RFC™) technologies, which work by preventing mycotoxins from being absorbed through the gut. By combining RFCs with a specially formulated bentonite binder, BG-MAX inactivates common mycotoxins while also protecting the gut. BG-MAX is especially beneficial to sow diets because it inactivates 90 percent of ZEA2, the most detrimental mycotoxin to reproductive function.

In addition, beta 1,3/1,6 glucans and mannans present in BG-MAX can reverse immune suppression caused by mycotoxins, allowing the animal to protect itself against secondary pathogens.

In vitro tests2 demonstrate that BG-MAX is more effective in absorbing harmful feed compounds than activated charcoal, bentonite and another yeast-derived product. Cytotoxicity tests show that BG-MAX protects epithelial cells from damaged caused by leading mycotoxins, including DON, ZEA and FUMO.

Resiliency against mycotoxins

Field research shows BG-MAX enhances sow reproductive performance in the presence of mycotoxins. In a recent commercial trial3, researchers fed 303 sows a ration contaminated with ZEN and DON at levels comparable to those seen in commercial herds globally.

Treatment sows received BG-MAX in their diets, while control animals received no BG-MAX supplementation. Results (Table 1) showed sows fed BG-MAX recorded:

• Higher fertility

• Higher farrowing rate

• Lower mortality

Table 1. Reproductive performance of sows fed BG-MAX

Ultimately, the increased protection from BG-MAX helps mitigate mycotoxins in feed by building sow resiliency against their harmful effects. For more information on BG-MAX and other ARM & HAMMER™ products, visit AHfoodchain.com.

1. Diaz-Liano G and Smith TK, 2006.

2. Research Bulletin I-25. BG-MAX evaluation in vitro research. Dr. Rene Marquez at the Mycotoxin Lab of INIFAP (Institute of National Investigations for Agriculture) Research Center in Palo Alto, Mexico.

3. Research Notes S-97. BG-MAX supplementation maintains reproductive performance of cows fed gestation diet containing zearalenone and deoxynivalenol. Adapted from a study done at a commercial pig research center in Spain, 2019.

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For more of the article, please click here.Article made possible through the contribution of Sangita Jalukar and Arm & Hammer Animal and Food Production

Mycotoxins are hidden threats to sow productivity