Protecting pigs from mycotoxins in animal feed

For those engaged in pig production, maintaining a balance between pig health, performance and farm profitability is a constant focus. One often unseen challenge that is both costly and persistent is the threat posed by mycotoxins in animal feed.

Mycotoxins, naturally occurring compounds which certain molds and fungi produce in crops and feedstuffs, can be found in various components of the food and feed supply chain, including byproducts, cereals and complete feeds. Contamination can occur while crops are still in the field or during subsequent storage. Environmental conditions such as warm autumns following wet summers create an optimal environment for mold growth.

And, as the climate crisis causes more extreme temperatures and weather events, the risk is rising (see Figure 1 below).

Figure 1: Alltech 37+ analysis of DON in European wheat and barley, 2022–2025

Common types of mycotoxins and their impact

Specific types of mycotoxins are known for their distinct detrimental effects on livestock health and swine health in particular:

• Deoxynivalenol (DON), also known as vomitoxin, is notorious for its tendency to reduce feed intake.
• Zearalenone (ZEA) can mimic estrogen, resulting in reproductive issues for sows and gilts.
• Other significant toxins, including fumonisins, aflatoxins and ochratoxin A, may impair immunity and damage organs.

The challenge is rarely limited to a single contaminant, as mycotoxin contamination in feedstuffs commonly presents as a “cocktail” of multiple toxins. This multiple-mycotoxin contamination often results in a combined impact that is more harmful than the effects of each mycotoxin acting alone.

The vulnerability of pigs to mycotoxins

The growing mycotoxin threat constitutes a major global issue for livestock farmers — and among livestock species, pigs are recognized as being among the most sensitive to these contaminants. The pig’s gastrointestinal tract is particularly sensitive to the presence of mycotoxins.

Even when mycotoxins are present at low levels, their effects on pigs, even healthy pigs, can be serious, impacting productivity and profitability. These effects may include reproductive performance issues, reduced growth rates and organ damage. Critically, mycotoxins can also reduce the efficiency of the immune system and increase susceptibility to potentially infectious disease. Though less obvious, subclinical effects can also affect health and productivity and silently erode profit margins over time.

Overall, the economic impact is vast, with studies indicating that mycotoxins cost the global pig industry hundreds of millions annually due to lost performance.

Insights from a 2024 pig meta-analysis

A 2024 publication by Dr. Alexandra Weaver, Dr. Daniel Weaver, Nick Adams and Dr. Alexandros Yiannikouris applied meta-analysis with meta-regression to evaluate the effects of mycotoxin challenges on growing pigs.

The meta-analysis revealed a clear link between mycotoxin exposure and reduced performance. Even when contamination levels were below EU and U.S. regulatory guidelines, average daily gain (ADG) decreased by 79 g. When at least one mycotoxin exceeded these limits, ADG dropped by 85 g and average daily feed intake (ADFI) fell by 166 g.

Across 30 treatment comparisons, the inclusion of Mycosorb® during mycotoxin exposure was associated with optimized performance. Pigs receiving Mycosorb showed higher ADG, up by 48 g under lower challenge conditions. Even at higher mycotoxin challenge levels, when Mycosorb was included, there was both an increase in ADG and a tendency for an increase in ADFI.

A three-step strategy for managing mycotoxins in feeds

Given the scope of the risk — and the fact that feed is a major investment, representing the largest input cost on pig farms — it is vital for modern pig producers to establish robust mycotoxin prevention programs that protect their feed, their animals and their profits.

An effective mycotoxin management strategy relies on three critical steps:

1. Identify the risk.

The initial step toward understanding the contamination challenge is testing both raw materials and finished pig feed. Testing is essential because mycotoxins are invisible, meaning that a batch of feed or crop that looks healthy may still be contaminated.

Alltech 37+® laboratory analysis provides a comprehensive mycotoxin testing service. It screens for more than 50 types of mycotoxins across seven groups, providing farmers and nutritionists with a clear picture of their current contamination status.

Alltech® RAPIREAD® is a rapid data assessment and risk analysis program that provides results within minutes. It fits seamlessly into a modern mycotoxin management strategy, working alongside comprehensive lab-based tools such as Alltech 37+.

2. Quantify the risk.

Producers must move beyond merely identifying the presence of toxins; they must understand what specific types and levels of mycotoxin contamination mean for their animals.

Alltech’s unique Risk Equivalent Quantity (REQ) metric utilizes data from the Alltech 37+ analysis to assess the potential impacts in pigs across different life stages, from breeding gilts and sows to weaners and finishers. This detailed quantification allows producers to make informed choices concerning diet formulation, raw material sourcing, and the necessity for further action (see Figure 2 below).

Figure 2. Alltech REQ global data on type B trichothecenes and fusaric acid in swine, from finished feed and raw materials (Jan. 2020 – Oct. 2025)

3. Mitigate the risk.

Once the risk has been quantified, mitigation becomes essential. In addition to proactive feed storage and management strategies, mycotoxin binding technologies such as Alltech’s Mycosorb range of solutions play a crucial role here.

Mycosorb solutions bind to mycotoxins, working to minimize their absorption in the gut, thus minimizing their harmful effects. They are effective across a broad spectrum of mycotoxins, alone or in combination. Mycosorb’s efficacy is backed by nearly 30 years of research and a substantial number of peer-reviewed publications, making it a globally trusted tool.

The recent launch of a new evolution of Mycosorb solutions, Mycosorb® A+ Evo and Mycosorb® Evo*, demonstrates Alltech’s dedication to providing the most up-to-date, innovative mycotoxin management technologies available. For more information, visit www.alltech.com/mycosorb-evo.

*Product availability and details may vary by country. Contact your local Alltech representative for specific information.

Proactive monitoring of grains for pigs

The annual Alltech Harvest Analysis is conducted specifically to monitor the prevalence of mycotoxin contamination in key small grains and forages, including maize, wheat, barley, grass and maize silages. This program analyzes thousands of new crop samples, supplying farmers, nutritionists, feed manufacturers, and others in the livestock and feed sectors with significant data and practical insights into patterns of mycotoxin contamination and potential risks. The finished report is a valuable asset for building proactive mycotoxin-control strategies before contaminated feeds even arrive at the pig unit.

Updates on this year’s Harvest Analysis results will be released soon by Alltech’s monogastric and ruminant teams, offering a current view of the mycotoxin landscape and delving into its implications for global pig production.

Protecting profitability and pig health

Effective mycotoxin management is fundamentally about safeguarding farm profitability as well as pig health. A proactive approach provides numerous advantages for healthy pigs, including improved growth rates, better reproductive performance and stronger immunity, leading to increased resilience to disease. For the producer, these benefits translate into higher productivity, fewer costly health setbacks, and a more secure return on the major investment made in feed.

Although mycotoxins are not a new challenge, their impact continues to evolve as weather patterns change and feed ingredient supply chains shift. In a sector where efficiency is paramount and margins are tight, tackling this invisible threat is a step farmers cannot afford to overlook. Producers can protect the health and performance of their pigs by using tools like the Alltech 37+ lab analysis and Mycosorb range of solutions to identify, quantify and mitigate the risk.

Additional resources detailing monitoring tools, testing services and proven mitigation strategies designed to protect animal health and performance are available online for those who wish to better understand the risks of mycotoxins in animal feed and learn how to manage those risks effectively. Visit the Alltech Mycotoxin Management site at www.knowmycotoxins.com to access these insights.

Dr. Hazel Rooney is the European pig specialist within Alltech’s Technology Group, where she leads the development and coordination of technical solutions for pigs across Ireland and Europe. She works closely with customers to enhance pig performance, address industry challenges, and develop tailored programs. In addition to her hands-on approach, she contributes to the industry through technical articles, presentations, and research-driven insights.

Dr. Rooney earned her Ph.D. in swine nutrition from University College Dublin and the Teagasc Pig Development Department in 2019. Her doctoral research focused on maternal feeding strategies during gestation and lactation to optimize annual sow output and to promote the growth and development of progeny from large litters. Before joining Alltech in 2020, she spent a year working as a post-doctoral researcher in the Teagasc Pig Development Department in Ireland.  

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