ARTICLE FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE March 2026 79 ZEN contamination, even beyond the DON, and that is a bit of a concern,” Dr. Haladi said. The mycotoxins found in the highest average concentrations include DON, at 583ppb, and fumonisins (FUM) at 961ppb, which also accounted for the highest maximum concentration. These numbers are most useful when considered in context with the vulnerability of different animal species and subspecies to various mycotoxins. “For sows, the 86ppb of ZEN could be a problem, while in the grow-finisher pigs, that might not be an issue, so you need to consider the animal you are feeding,” said Dr. Haladi. CONSIDER SOURCING, SEASONALITY, AND SPECIES WHEN ASSESSING MYCOTOXIN RISK Concentrations (amounts) of mycotoxins were similar between 2024 and 2025. However, concentrations tended to peak in different months for several mycotoxins. Livestock and feed producers should be aware of the regions from which feed ingredients are sourced. Many samples coming from countries in Asia tested high for levels of DON and ZEN, which are typically concerns in cooler climates. These levels highlight the importance of keeping an eye on the quality of imported raw materials. Maize is just one source of mycotoxins that can contaminate feed. Other grains, byproducts, and protein meals contain different mycotoxins, which can increase the overall contamination level. When formulating diets, care needs to be paid to both Asia & Oceania Africa & Middle East AFLA DON FUM OCHRA T2HT2 ZEA Global Latin America North America Europe AFLA DON FUM OCHRA T2HT2 ZEA AFLA DON FUM OCHRA T2HT2 ZEA AFLA DON FUM OCHRA T2HT2 ZEA AFLA DON FUM OCHRA T2HT2 ZEA 60 40 20 0 60 40 20 0 40 30 20 10 0 80 60 40 20 0 Total Contamination (%) AFLA DON FUM OCHRA T2HT2 ZEA 60 40 20 0 63 45 29 18 19 70 Total Contamination (%) Total Contamination (%) Total Contamination (%) Total Contamination (%) 100 75 50 25 0 Total Contamination (%) 68 34 13 32 20 13 45 37 76 81 51 15 4 72 99 93 94 99 100 2 57 44 18 31 62 55 65 67 72 8 Figure 1. When crafting feeds from multiple ingredients, it can be important for producers to consider regional mycotoxin prevalence and the origins of any imported materials. Dr. Swamy Haladi
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