ISSUE FOCUS 36 FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE March 2024 “Mycotoxin Binder is a misnomer. This term only covers mycotoxin sequestering mode of action (MOA) without any reference to other technologies in use today. Global scientific and animal industry communities should look for a unified new name…” Livestock and poultry feeds and raw materials are susceptible to fungal/mould colonisation and subsequent mycotoxin production. Raw materials include maize, wheat, broken rice, millets, soybean meal, sunflower meal, rapeseed meal, byproducts such as DDGS, and various silages, hays, and grasses. Mycotoxins are a world-wide challenge due to the increasing global trading of raw materials as well as climate change and changing agricultural practices. Although animals can be exposed to more than 600 different mycotoxins, most research till date has focused on six groups of mycotoxins: aflatoxins (AF), ochratoxins (OTA), T-2/HT-2 toxin (T-2/HT-2), deoxynivalenol (DON), fumonisins (FB) and zearalenone (ZEN). The emerging mycotoxins such as enniatin, moniliformin, fusaric acid, and mycophenolic acid are also known to cause toxicity in animals. Masked mycotoxins have garnered greater attention in recent times due to their interference with the diagnosis of mycotoxicosis. Mycotoxicosis is a condition observed in animals upon the ingestion of different concentrations of mycotoxins from the complete feed. Although mycotoxins can affect most organs and systems in animals, there are three systems that can be affected by many mycotoxins even at low concentrations. These are the animal’s immune system, GIT, and antioxidant system. To prevent negative effects, many strategies have been tried over the years, but very few have been practical. MYCOTOXIN BINDER Dietary supplementation with non-nutritive mycotoxin binders (mycotoxin-sequestrating agents), a global, practical, well-researched and effective mycotoxin management practice, has been in use for the last few decades. An effective mycotoxin binder prevents or limits mycotoxin absorption from the GIT of the animal. Ideally a mycotoxin binder should be effective against several mycotoxins as feeds are contaminated with more than one mycotoxin. To remain practical, mycotoxin binders should also be reasonably priced and should not occupy a large portion of the complete diet. Additionally, mycotoxin binders should be free of impurities, off flavours and odours. Natural and synthetic clays are the most studied mycotoxin binders followed by yeast cell wall fractions. As there are hundreds of such binders in the market, it can be confusing for feed- and animal producers to know which one to choose. in vitro mycotoxin binding tests are commonly conducted MYCOTOXIN BINDER IS A MISNOMER! Dr. Swamy Haladi Global Technical Commercial Manager Selko
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