About  Mycotoxins

About Mycotoxins

David Sparks Ph.D.
David Sparks Ph.D.
What are mycotoxins? The word mycotoxin stems from the Greek word "mykes", meaning mould, and "toxicum" meaning poison. Mycotoxins are toxic secondary metabolites produced by fungi growing on crops in the field, during handling and in storage. Mycotoxins are chemically different representing a variety of chemical families and range in molecular weight. Mycotoxins vary greatly in their severity. They enter the animal production system via feed (concentrate, silage or forage) or via bedding. Mycotoxins negatively affect animal performance, animal health and product quality. Thus mycotoxin control is crucial for production economics, animal welfare, product quality and food safety reasons. Dr. Max Hawkins is an Alltech Mycotoxin Management team nutritionist: “We have to take into account, as many mycotoxins as possible to get the best possible estimate of the risk that is being presented to the animals. When you get multiple mycotoxins present, even at a low risk, their cumulative effect will additive Lee and possibly synergistically are going to increase the effect on the animals that consume that.” With that in mind it is always best to test your animals feed for mycotoxins before giving it to them.
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