ISSUE FOCUS FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE March 2024 45 In many cases despite the absence of visible symptoms, mycotoxins may significantly impact animal health and performance. Recognizing the imperative need for proactive measures, Cargill has developed tools and solutions to empower poultry producers in the battle against mycotoxins. Our in-house analyses and comprehensive mycotoxin database enable us to assess contamination levels, providing a critical foundation for informed decision-making. Understanding the nuanced impact of mycotoxin contaminations on animal performance and health is paramount. To address this, Cargill analysed over 110 scientific articles to develop the Mycotoxin Impact Calculator (MIC). Compiling this extensive data, we formulated equations that predict performance losses by mycotoxin and poultry subspecies. The MIC, a science-based tool, assigns a precise figure to a previously vaguely defined problem, enabling informed decision-making and precise solutions to limit performance losses due to mycotoxins. In a recent broiler trial, our MIC predicted a 9.5% performance loss when 20 mg/kg Deoxynivalenol contaminated the feed. The calculator predicted that the drop in performance would be reduced to just 4% when Notox™ Ultimate, a large spectrum anti-mycotoxin additive, was used. The trial confirmed these predictions, as broilers fed Deoxynivalenol-contaminated feed lost 8.8% performance, and the addition of Notox Ultimate supported a reduction in loss to 3.4% (Graphic 1). This translates to a 1:4 return on investment, showcasing the effectiveness and accuracy of our calculator along with Notox Ultimate in minimizing mycotoxin-induced performance losses. In our ongoing commitment to advancing poultry nutrition, we recognize the pervasive threat posed by mycotoxins, and are dedicating our resources to 100 98 96 94 92 90 88 86 84 a a b Negative Control Positive Control Positive Control + Notox Ultimate Change in broiler body weight at 35 days of age relative to negative control (%compared to NC) MIC prediction Trial Results Graphic 1. Effects of deoxynivalenol on the live weight of broilers at 35 days of age with or without Notox Ultimate and predictions of the Mycotoxins Impact Calculator; Cargill R&D. Toxin Total Analyses % Analyses Contaminated Above Broiler Performance Threshold % Analyses Contaminated Above Breeder Performance Threshold % Analyses Contaminated Above Layer Performance Threshold Aflatoxin Fumonisin Ochratoxin T-2 toxin Deoxynivalenol Zearalenone Total 98,113 48,982 16,437 21,744 119,118 56,690 361,084 Table 1. Total number and percentages of mycotoxin analyzes carried out in 2023 that exceed Cargill risk thresholds for broilers, breeders and layers; Cargill 2023 Mycotoxin Report. 8% 47% 3% 23% 44% 34% 30% 8% 31% 2% 12% 44% 42% 28% 8% 31% 2% 12% 44% 42% 28% % Analyses Above Cargill Performance Risk Threshold for Poultry Severe Risk 75-100% High Risk 50-74% Moderate Risk 25-49% Slight risk 0-24%
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