2024-07-09
Mycotoxin binders
Mycotoxins are toxic compounds produced by mold growth in feed ingredients. The most significant mycotoxins affecting swine are aflatoxin, vomitoxin, zearalenone, fumonisin, and ochratoxin, which are produced by molds that belong to the genera Aspergillus, Fusarium, and Penicillium. Mycotoxin contamination prevention includes pre- and post-harvest strategies. Interventions carried out in the field to prevent fungal infestation, such as crop rotation, tillage, insect control, and fungicides, are the most effective but often insufficient to prevent mycotoxin contamination (Jard et al., 2011). After harvest, one effective intervention is to screen and clean grain to reduce mycotoxin contamination in grains (Yoder et al., 2017). The most prevalent intervention is the inclusion of mold inhibitors and mycotoxin binders in the feed (Vila-Donat et al., 2018).