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Hog producers should be cautious about mycotoxins in grainsBy Jennifer Bremer 
Contamination of feedstuffs with molds and their toxins is a big concern for hog producers, according to Ohio State University Professor of Animal Nutrition Donald Mahan. Mahan discussed how producers should cope with corn with mycotoxin problems, at the Alltech Symposium held in Lexington, Ky., recently. Mahan said the problems in the stored grains are due to the unusual 2009 harvest in the U.S.; and problems were also seen in Europe. "In the U.S., we were wet during flowering stages and had a wet, delayed harvest, which has led to many problems with mycotoxin molds," he said. "Various molds affect different feeds, but any molds can cause problems." Many different molds develop in the field but don't increase or decline in storage as long as the grain is kept cool and has good air movement throughout the storage time period. Problems that may be seen with animals who eat damaged grains are feed refusal, reduced rate of gain, induced vomiting, and actual weight loss because the appetite center is affected. "The problems found in grains are generally not just mycotoxins but rather a combination of molds and toxins," said Mahan. He suggested using analytical tests to determine what the problem might be. Several different tests are available such as using a black light, the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay test, and a high-performance liquid chromatography test, which can show all molds present. The deoxynivalenol, or DON mycotoxin, has a large impact on grain quality. DON can make the color of corn change and appear to have more of a mold look. Ethanol processors will likely reject corn with DON of five parts per million or higher. DON in wheat will infect the kernels, cause low test weights and is found mostly in the bran portion of the grain. Some continue to feed DON-contaminated diets to swine, which Mahan said won't cause much problem at a low level. Male hogs seem to be more sensitive to those grains than gilts and sows do. Mahan said research continues to be done to determine how mycotoxin-infected grains can still be fed to livestock. Some solutions have been to add clays and other earthen products to the feed, but this hasn't been a total solution, depending on the type of molds present. Some commercial products such as enzymes, supplements, or acids can be used, but he said there still might not be a clear result. "The practical solution is to use grains that are low in mycotoxins such as DON. This would include using grains with moisture levels lower than 14 percent and a temperature of lower than 45 degrees," he said. "Blending grains can also help with mycotoxin problems." Mahan also stressed for humans to take precautions when handling mycotoxin-infected grains. "The 2009 corn crop has been a problem for us to deal with because of the late harvest and high moisture levels. Because of this, producers should be extra cautious about what they are feeding." Jennifer Bremer can be reached by phone at 515-833-2120, or by e-mail at jbremer@hpj.com.
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