August 19, 2004

Mycotoxins Problems Discovered In US Small Grains

There have been reports of mycotoxin problems as small grain harvest continues in the Upper Midwest in US, and swine producers should take care with their feed grains.

South Dakota State University Extension swine specialist Bob Thaler said ergot contamination has been reported in wheat from south central South Dakota. Some elevators in eastern South Dakota are testing wheat samples for Vomitoxin (or DON). Ergot appears on heads of wheat, barley and rye as black, elongated structures that replace the kernel. It can be a big problemfor livestock producers if fed to livestock in large amounts, Thaler said.

"Symptoms of ergotism include staggers, convulsions, temporary posterior paralysis and loss of blood flow to the extremities. This loss of blood flow can result in gangrene and the actual sloughing off of the extremities," Thaler said. Vomitoxin is the most common mycotoxin in the Upper Midwest and is caused by cool, damp weather, resulting in a white to pink to reddish fungus in the kernel.

"Vomitoxin's symptoms are exactly what the name indicates: the pigs start vomiting when diets contain 10 parts per million DON or more. At levels greater than 1 part per million of DON, swine start to refuse feed and at levels greater than 10 parts per million, they refuse it completely."  Thaler added that even though producers may see products advertised to deal with the problem, they would be better off saving their money.

"There are no commercially available products that alleviate the effects of these two mycotoxins. Clays, pellet binders, etc., will help with aflatoxin, but it occurs mainly in the warmer, Southern states," Thaler said.

Management is the key when dealing with ergot and Vomitoxin. First, keep contaminated grains out of nursery and sow diets, and target them mainly for finishing diets where they will do the least amount of harm. Secondly, blend them down with "clean" grain so that the final diet does not contain more than 1 part per million of the mycotoxin.

"However, the best bet is to find another market for the contaminated grain, and buy and use clean grain for your pigs," Thaler said.