To secure top performances in our modern pigs, is it essential to increase their natural resilience. This involves focusing on three areas: ensuring the safety and quality of their feed, coping with environmental challenges, and optimizing their gut functions. This article will focus on feed safety, because despite the improvement of agricultural and manufacturing practices, mycotoxin contamination in pig diets cannot completely be avoided. As pigs are very sensitive to mycotoxins, Adisseo developed solutions to address mycotoxin challenges.
Mycotoxins, naturally occurring toxins produced by fungi, are commonly found in many agricultural commodities, particularly maize, cereals, soy and their by-products. Due to their high consumption of the ingredients, pigs are frequently exposed to these toxins. Mycotoxins can cause clinical symptoms such as impaired fertility in sows, reduced feed intake in piglets and growing pigs, SINS1 in piglets, and aggressive behavior. Additionally, they might impair gut health in ways that are not visible to farmers or vets. Both clinical and subclinical symptoms significantly impact animal performance and health. The economic impact of mycotoxins on swine production is mainly due to losses related to direct effects on animal health and performance and trade losses related to grain rejection.