Many pig farms face the same puzzle: the vaccination program is followed correctly and there are no problems with the feed formula, yet the herd remains in poor health. Feed intake drops, tear staining and rough coats appear, sows miscarry, and there are more weak piglets. In many cases, the culprit is mycotoxins. They do not cause large numbers of deaths rapidly like highly virulent infectious diseases, but they steadily erode the herd’s immunity and quietly eat into farm profits.
Mycotoxins can be found in raw materials such as corn, wheat bran, and soybean meal. If any stage of harvesting, drying, transport, or storage is exposed to moisture, mold can easily grow and produce toxins. Even when no mold is visible to the naked eye, the inside of the raw materials may already be contaminated. Different toxins have different primary effects: aflatoxins mainly attack the liver and reduce immunity; deoxynivalenol can cause feed refusal, vomiting, and intestinal inflammation; zearalenone is particularly likely to disrupt the reproductive system, causing false estrus, return to heat, and miscarriage in sows, as well as vulvar swelling and redness; fumonisins can damage the lungs and trigger respiratory problems.
Prevention and control should start at the source. When purchasing raw materials, prioritize full grains that are unbroken and free of unusual odors, as broken grains and insect-damaged grains are more likely to become moldy. Keep warehouses dry and well ventilated, raise goods off the floor to prevent moisture from rising, and follow a first-in, first-out system for raw materials instead of stockpiling them for long periods. Feed troughs and feed lines should also be cleaned regularly. Residual feed can become damp, sour, and moldy, continually exposing pigs to toxins—an easily overlooked issue.
A single mycotoxin binder is not a cure-all. Different mycotoxin products on the market have different focuses. Some only adsorb aflatoxins and have limited effectiveness against other toxins, so you should not rely solely on mycotoxin binders. The best approach is to first control raw material quality, then use a comprehensive toxin-removal program, while also monitoring raw materials regularly and tightening controls during high-risk seasons.
Pig groups at different stages have different tolerance levels. Piglets and pregnant sows are the most sensitive, with very low tolerance thresholds for toxins, so raw material standards must be higher. If tear stains, pinpoint bleeding spots on the back, alternating constipation and diarrhea, or declining breeding performance occur across a pig group, investigate feed raw materials immediately rather than blindly resorting to injections or medication.
Also watch for combined effects: when multiple mycotoxins coexist, their toxicity can be amplified synergistically. If stress or diseases such as PRRS are also present, the risk of illness can increase severalfold. After toxins damage the immune system, pigs are more susceptible to various pathogens, creating a vicious cycle of “toxins—declining immunity—recurrent illness.”
Mycotoxin control is an ongoing, everyday effort, not something to address only after problems arise. By maintaining strict control over raw materials, managing storage properly, keeping feeding equipment clean, and implementing a suitable toxin-control program to cut off ongoing exposure, pig groups can recover from subclinical health issues, allowing their reproductive performance and growth potential to be fully realized.