Mycotoxins in Small Ruminants

What are mycotoxins?

Mycotoxins are harmful, naturally occurring substances produced by certain molds (or fungi). These fungi commonly grow on feedstuffs and tend to multiply during adverse weather conditions. More than 500 mycotoxins have been identified to date, and that number is steadily increasing.

Mycotoxin threats to sheep, goats and deer

Ruminant animals are generally considered to be less susceptible to mycosis than monogastrics. This is thought to be because rumen flora degrade and inactivate in-feed mycotoxins. However, several mycotoxins resist rumen breakdown, and ruminants must often deal with a myriad of challenges because their diets often contain both concentrates and forages.

Mycotoxin sources

The presence of mycotoxins in corn and in forages, such as grass and hay, poses one of the greatest threats to small ruminants. Even fresh grass can be contaminated with several mycotoxins. These typically include fungal endophytes that produce mycotoxins, which protect the plant in some way, such as ergovaline and lolitrem B, as well as Fusarium mycotoxins, such as zearalenone or deoxynivalenol (DON).

The range of mycotoxins

Mycotoxins rarely occur in isolation. It is fairly common to find multiple mycotoxins coexisting in finished feeds, which allows these mycotoxins to interact and, in turn, can lead to synergistic or additional effects.

For more information on specific types of mycotoxins and their related complications, visit knowmycotoxins.com.

Mycotoxin symptoms in sheep, goats and deer

The signs of mycotoxin exposure may vary depending on the specific type of mycotoxin, the dose ingested and the period of exposure, but they can include:

• Immunosuppression
• Decreased feed intake
• Weight loss
• Mouth ulcers
• Impaired rumen function
• Liver damage
• Lameness
• Diarrhea
• Reduced lactation
• Lower conception rates
• Abortions
• Premature births
• Weak testicular development
• Low sperm count

Preventing and managing mycotoxins in small ruminants

Proper mycotoxin management is essential in order to avoid unpredictable losses and maintain herd performance. As such, reducing exposure to these harmful substances is key. Detection, prevention and mitigation are critical components of an effective mycotoxin management strategy.

Conducting regular analyses of feedstuffs can help uncover potential hidden threats from mycotoxins. It is worth noting that one highly contaminated sample does not necessarily mean that the entire crop is bad. Similarly, a “clean” sample does not guarantee that all of your feed is mycotoxin-free.

The Alltech 37+® mycotoxin analysis test can provide a realistic picture of feed contaminants for producers, allowing them to get a diagnosis more quickly, determine the most effective remediation strategy and form a more effective mycotoxin control plan.