Dangerous mycotoxins – carcinogenic and toxic fungal metabolites – commonly occur in animal feed, especially in corn (maize) and its by-products that feature prominently in pigs’ diets, according to Sabine Pruckner, Technical Manager - Swine.

Field fungi like Fusarium spp., Aspergillus spp. and Claviceps spp., produce mycotoxins that can have a negative impact on animals’ reproductive performance. Any such reproductive failure or drop in reproductive performance is referred to as mycotoxicosis.

For swine, the most hazardous mycotoxins are ZEN, ergot alkaloids and T-2 toxins, which can lead to huge reproduction problems in sows, gilts as well as in boars and hence can decrease the performance of the animals and as a consequence the economic results of the farm.

Further Reading

To read Ms Pruckner's Mycotoxin blog, click here.