Mycotoxin Update - Grand Valley Fortifiers

By: Kayla Silva, M.Sc.
Monogastric Nutritionist
Grand Valley Fortifiers

The 2024 Ontario corn season has been marked by a mix of favourable and challenging conditions that shaped crop development across the region. Early in the season, mild temperatures and an early planting window provided a promising start for many farmers. However, pockets of excessive rainfall in the spring created challenges for some, leading to concerns about waterlogged fields and delayed planting. July was met with frequent rainfall. These conditions are generally beneficial for corn growth, but sporadic heatwaves in July posed a risk of stress during the crucial pollination phase, while the wet conditions during silking brought fear of molds. Fortunately, most of August and September was sunny, which allowed dry kernel development and improved yield potential.

At Grand Valley Fortifiers, a mycotoxin database is maintained to provide our customers with a summary of mycotoxin levels across Ontario. To date, a total of 58 corn samples representing 13 different counties across Ontario have been sampled and analyzed for DON (Vomitoxin), Zearalenone, T2, Fumonisons, and Aflatoxins .

Table 1 : DON values represent most of the mycotoxin load and has an average of 0.360 ppm.

Table 2 : Breakdown of mycotoxin contamination by Ontario Counties.

Along with this information, OMAFA field crop specialists, in collaboration with Grain Farmers of Ontario and the Ontario Agri-Business Association, completed a 2024 Ontario grain corn ear mold and DON mycotoxin survey (2024 Ontario Grain Corn Ear Mould and Deoxynivalenol (DON) Mycotoxin Survey – Field Crop News). They found that from 261 ear corn samples, 76% of the samples contained less than 0.5 ppm of DON, 18% contained 0.5 to 2 ppm of DON and 6% contained 2 to 5 ppm. Compared to 2023, 41% of samples contained less than 0.5 ppm, 36% from 0.5 to 2 ppm, and 18% from 2 to 5 ppm. Compared to the 10-year average, 2024 is considered one of the lowest DON years.

Although mycotoxin levels are low, it is important to know that toxins, particularly aflatoxins and fusarium, pose significant health risks to swine, including reduced feed intake, impaired growth, reproductive issues, and weakened immune responses. Exposure to these toxins can lead to severe economic losses in swine production. Below is a table that lists the potential symptoms associated with mycotoxin contamination.

To combat mycotoxin contamination, producers can implement several strategies:
01. Cleaning or Roasting Grain – since most of the mycotoxins are found in the fines, removing the fines, or roasting can burn off the fines and remove toxins from the surface of the grain.
02. Diluting Contaminated Grain – including wheat, barley or bakery in diets will reduce the amount of corn, ultimately reducing the amount ofmycotoxins present.
03. Enzymes and Probiotics – enzymes can transform mycotoxins into less toxic compounds, and probiotics can transform whole families of mycotoxins and eliminate them by biotransformation, while offering protection to the gut.

Year to year mycotoxins remain a risk in feed grains fed to livestock animals, of which pigs are the most sensitive. Ultimately, laboratory testing is best for assessing the risks in feeding contaminated grains. Being vigilant and assessing symptoms within your herd, as well as speaking with a Grand Valley Fortifiers Livestock Business Consultant or Nutritionist about mitigation strategies is the best way to cope with mycotoxin contamination. Be sure to reach out if youhave questions or concerns.

This article was written for the Winter 2024 Swine Grist. To read the whole Swine Grist, click the button below.

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This article was also written for the Winter 2024 Western & Prairie Swine Grist. To read the whole Western Swine Grist, click the button below.

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