PARTNER FEATURE ▶▶▶


Animal liver protection: The silver bullet against mycotoxins


During the Covid-19 pandemic, feed ingredient prices keep rising. To relieve the cost pressure, feed producers start using stale grain, which increases the risk of mycotoxin contamination. Liver protection appears to be of great importance.


BY PAN HUA, WANG JIANMIN, LACHANCEGROUP D


10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90%


0% East China 16


Central China


North China


South China


Northeast Northwest Southwest


uring the Covid-19 pandemic, feed ingredient prices kept rising due to multiple factors. To relieve the cost pressure, many feed producers started using stale grain, in which mycotoxin content can


be expected. Additionally, mycotoxin grows and reproduces easily in the current hot and humid weather. Thus, it causes symptoms in chicken flocks, such as low feed intake, black faeces and sporadic mortality. Some chicken even vomit water. Autopsy results show congealed blood and fluid in the abdominal cavity and a swollen liver that is tawny or


100% Figure 1 - Current condition of mycotoxin contamination in China.


Regional mycotoxin detection rate AFB1


FB1 ZEN DON


off-white. Unfortunately, taking enteric or regular medicines usually does not work. According to a statistical analysis of feed contamination with mycotoxin in China 2015-2020 (Figure 1) mycotoxin contam- ination in feed and its ingredients is common in most area of China. Contamination in East China is the most serious as the mycotoxin detection rates there are the highest. Central and North China take second place. Grains are more vulnerable to mycotoxin contamination. FB1 and deoxynivalenol (DON) contamination in maize is worse. DON is the main contamina- tion source in wheat and its by-products, while the detection rate is relatively lower in soybean meal. Complete feed is se- riously contaminated by all four mycotoxins with both a high detection rate and a positive value.


Mycotoxin liver damage of livestock & poultry The liver is the largest gland in the animal body, playing an important role in metabolisation, bile formation, detox- ification, blood coagulation and immunisation. Therefore, keeping the liver structure healthy is extremely important for overall animal health. Liver damage will lead to growth retardation, decreased immunity, dermatorrhagiainternal hemorrhage, cumulative toxicosis, ammonia reduction in the excrement and secondary infection induced by haemoglobin synthesis reduction. AFB1(Aflatoxin B1) is a hypervirulent hepatotoxin that can cause damage to the


▶ ALL ABOUT FEED | Volume 29, No. 7, 2021


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