ISSUE FOCUS 32 FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE August 2022 GUIDANCE ON HOWTO REGISTER A MYCOTOXIN BINDER The presence of mycotoxins in feed has a negative impact on animal production, animal health, and potentially, consumer health. It has been found that when animals are exposed to mycotoxin contaminated feed, they are often more prone to secondary infections. Other signs and symptoms that can be observed in animals exposed to mycotoxins through the ingestion of feed are depression, lower feed intake rates, morbidity, and in extreme cases, the ingestion of high levels of mycotoxins can even lead to death.4 The cost of eliminating the contaminated feed must also be considered and this will further exacerbate the negative economic impact. Mycotoxins can be described as secondary toxic metabolites produced by certain strains of fungi1 and could potentially be present when there is mould growth on the ingredients used to produce animal feed.3 It is however worth mentioning that mould growth can take place during various stages of the feed production process, which includes ingredients as well as finished feed. Precautionary measures need to be in place at key points in the feed manufacturing cycle to reduce the presence of mycotoxins as much as feasibly possible. One of the key preventative measures is the inclusion of mycotoxin binders to feed. Let's take a closer look at these products: WHAT IS A MYCOTOXIN BINDER? A mycotoxin binder functions as a substance that binds to the mycotoxins present in the feed to prevent the absorption of them through the intestinal tract of an animal. Customers may find it reassuring when mycotoxin binders are routinely added to feed.5 These binder products should have the following desirable characteristics:9 • Successful at isolating the mycotoxin of interest • Bind to a single specific mycotoxin in some cases, or binding to multiple mycotoxins in others • Substantially prevent animal toxicity • No adverse effects should be observed in the animals ingesting the binder and if some adverse effects are observed, they should not outweigh the benefits • The cost of the product should make the inclusion of it profitable as well as practical • Residues of mycotoxins should not increase in the animal/products • Animal food products should not be negatively affected by the binder Dawn Botha Technical Marketing Manager Pen & Tec Consulting
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTUxNjkxNQ==