Mycotoxin-contaminated grains are commonly downgraded for use in livestock feed and, while the best strategy for livestock producers is to avoid feeding mycotoxin-contaminated grain altogether, with the increased incidence and level of contamination this is no longer a viable option. Therefore, strategies that allow the use of mycotoxin-contaminated grains in livestock feed are necessary.
Based on the preliminary results of this study, feeding 3 or 5 ppm DON resulted in reduced body weight and growth performance, however, evidence suggests pigs can adapt to DON-contaminated diets. In addition, DON may have less of an impact on younger animals. While older animals also have an ability to adapt to DON, the shorter time-period available for recovery may be insufficient. Results also indicate that the effects of DON-contamination on growth performance largely relates to a reduction in feed intake, as feed efficiency remained relatively constant across dietary treatments.
Long-term feeding of graded levels of deoxynivalenol in grower-finisher pigs (full article)
