Assessing Mycotoxin Risks in Imported Grains for Asian Livestock Production
In 2025, a substantial portion of livestock feed in Asia is sourced from grains imported from Europe, North America, Canada and Latin America. The productivity, health and overall performance of livestock are heavily reliant on these raw materials, which include corn, wheat and barley.
However, mycotoxins — harmful chemical compounds produced by molds and fungi — pose a significant threat. These contaminants can infiltrate animal feed, adversely impacting livestock health by compromising intestinal, organ and immune function, ultimately reducing profitability for producers.
To assess the risks associated with mycotoxins in Asian livestock production, this article draws on the Alltech 2024 Harvest Analysis to examine the mycotoxin landscape across Europe, North America and Canada, providing insights into potential contamination levels in imported feed.
Crop-growing seasons and mycotoxin risks across Europe, the U.S. and Canada
The 2024 growing season has brought unique challenges and opportunities across key agricultural regions, with fluctuating weather patterns and varying crop conditions.
Europe: The 2024 growing season in Europe saw significant regional variations due to fluctuating weather patterns, which had a notable impact on crop health and mycotoxin development.
• Northern and Western Europe experienced early relief from drought, but late-season rains delayed harvests and increased the risk of mycotoxin contamination. In Central and Southeastern Europe, early rains followed by drought-stressed crops further promoted mycotoxin development, while Southern Europe faced elevated temperatures and dry spells. These conditions are reflected in the Alltech 2024 European Harvest Analysis report, which shows an overall moderate-to-high risk of mycotoxin contamination, consistent with trends from previous years.
• The most prevalent mycotoxins remain type B trichothecenes, particularly deoxynivalenol, and emerging mycotoxins. Wheat samples showed high contamination levels, with an average of 7.7 mycotoxins per sample; in fact, 99% of samples contained multiple mycotoxins.
• Barley and corn samples indicated moderate risk on average across Europe, with barley averaging 6.3 mycotoxins per sample.
• Straw samples were at high risk, with 5.9 mycotoxins per sample, and grass and corn silages posed a high risk overall despite averaging only 2.9 mycotoxins per sample. Certain regions, including Hungary, Serbia, Romania and Bulgaria, reported particularly high levels of aflatoxin B1 in corn, reaching up to 506 ppb.
United States: In the U.S., this year's growing season was marked by significant regional weather variability, affecting crop health and mycotoxin contamination.
• In the Midwest, early-season drought stressed corn crops, though later rains brought some recovery. Meanwhile, the Great Plains, America's breadbasket, endured drought and extreme heat, and the South also faced drought conditions, which impacted corn production. These weather challenges are reflected in the analysis of corn silage samples, which shows a rise in mycotoxin contamination compared to last year.
• All tested samples contained two or more mycotoxins, up from 97% the previous year. The increase is largely attributed to substantial rainfall across the upper Midwest, which created favorable conditions for the growth of Fusarium molds, the primary source of harmful mycotoxins such as type B trichothecenes. This group of mycotoxins has seen a sharp rise, with an average concentration of 1,836 ppb and a maximum level of 43,717 ppb.
• Zearalenone, known for its estrogenic effects on livestock, has also increased significantly, with an average concentration of 102 ppb and a peak of 2,134 ppb.
• Additionally, emerging mycotoxins are on the rise, with samples averaging 100 ppb and reaching up to 4,300 ppb.
• The widespread presence of multiple mycotoxins poses a moderate-to-high risk for dairy cows, leading to serious health issues such as reduced milk production, reproductive difficulties and compromised immune function.
Canada: Similarly, Canada was also marked by regional weather variability. While the prairies were wet and cool to start the year, the second half of the growing season has been fairly dry.
• Eastern Canada and the Atlantic provinces generally experienced less rainfall than in 2023 but did still have areas with high rainfall during crop growth and with dry conditions closer to harvest. Wetter conditions this year, as compared to last, appear to have brought greater mycotoxin occurrence and risk as well.
• Results from a combination of Alltech® RAPIREAD™ and Stratford Agri Analysis testing have revealed a general increase in mycotoxin contamination in crops, compared to 2023.
• Across the country, corn silage in particular exhibited high risks, with zearalenone contamination found in almost all samples and a current maximum detected of 1,369 ppb.
• Deoxynivalenol was also common, further threatening animal performance and health.
• In British Columbia, results showed a presence of multiple Fusarium mycotoxins, including T2-HT2 toxins, deoxynivalenol, zearalenone and emerging mycotoxins. These pose serious risks to dairy cattle.
Figure 1: Mycotoxin risk map displaying initial results from the Alltech 2024 Harvest Analysis. The map illustrates Alltech REQ* (risk equivalent quantity) levels by region for sows, gilts and boars, highlighting varying mycotoxin exposure risks across different areas.
* REQ is a measure that combines the effects of multiple mycotoxins into one value, indicating the overall risk to animal health, with higher values showing greater risk.
In summary
The 2024 Alltech Harvest Analysis highlights significant mycotoxin risks in the regions exporting grains to Asia. In Europe, fluctuating weather increased mycotoxin levels, with wheat averaging 7.7 toxins per sample and with high aflatoxin B1 in corn from Hungary, Serbia, Romania and Bulgaria. In the U.S., extreme weather led to rising mycotoxins in corn silage, with type B trichothecenes reaching 43,717 ppb. Canada also saw increased contamination, particularly in corn silage, with zearalenone at 1,369 ppb.
These findings emphasize the need for strict monitoring to protect livestock health and productivity in Asia.
Managing mycotoxin risks
The full Alltech Asia Import Risk Analysis report will be available to download on the 12th March. By signing up, you'll gain access to the latest data on mycotoxin contamination trends, helping you make informed decisions to safeguard feed quality and animal health. Sign up here: https://go.alltech.com/asia-import-risk-analysis-2025. Alltech will also be hosting a webinar, "Mycotoxin insights to empower your nutritional strategy," on March 27 at 3:00 p.m. Singapore time. Join us to gain further insights into mycotoxin management and mitigating threats to livestock production.
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