December 15, 2006

High mycotoxin levels in Indiana corn concerns pig producers
 

Mycotoxin levels in this year's Indiana corn crop have reached their worst in 10 years, The Indiana Statistics Service said.

316 samples from 70 counties were examined by the toxicology group at the Indiana Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory.

Samples from six counties were found to contain deoxynivalenol (DON), or vomitoxin. Levels ranged from 0.5 - 8 ppm.

Toxins at such levels are of great concern to pig producers as pigs are more sensitive to DON than ruminants and poultry. DON mycotoxicoses in pigs can include feed refusal, vomiting, diarrhea and reduced feed consumption.

Fumonisin concentrations are also high. Fumonisins are produced by the pathogen causing Fusarium ear rot. This disease is most severe when earworms and other insects damage ears. Five of the samples contained greater than 18 ppm Fumonisins. These levels are well above the amounts that can cause leucoencephalomalacia in pigs.