BLOGS > MYCOTOXIN MANAGEMENT WITH FEED ADDITIVES

MYCOTOXIN MANAGEMENT WITH FEED ADDITIVES

09/01/2024 Pigs Poultry Ruminants

More than 90% of animal feed is contaminated with mycotoxins, posing a significant threat to the health and performance of farm animals. These harmful metabolites are produced by fungi that infect crops both in the field and during storage, making them prevalent in almost all agricultural products worldwide. To address the risks of mycotoxins in farm animals and to prevent their transfer from contaminated feed to food of animal origin, Olus has developed the Elan®Tox feed additive portfolio.

WHAT ARE MYCOTOXINS?
Mycotoxins are a group of toxic secondary metabolites produced by fungi imperfecti on agricultural products. Common and widely recognised mycotoxins are aflatoxins (AFLA), trichothecenes such as deoxynivalenol (DON) and T-2 toxin, fumonisins (FUM), zearalenone and ochratoxin. Cereals and grains, along with their by-products, are susceptible to mycotoxin contamination, leading to food and feed intoxications known as mycotoxicoses1. Mycotoxins possess unique properties: they are invisible, have no taste, are chemically stable and resistant to changes in temperature and storage conditions.




WHAT IMPACT DO MYCOTOXINS HAVE ON YOUR ANIMALS?


In animal husbandry, mycotoxins adversely impact animal health, welfare, and productivity, resulting in substantial economic losses1. These substances have the potential to affect animal health and productivity both acutely and chronically. Their main effects are reductions in:


    

  • Feed intake
    • 

  • Nutrient digestibility
    • 

  • Digestion and absorption processes
    • 

  • Nutrient uptake
    • 



Mycotoxins also can disrupt the morphology of the pancreas and intestines, as well as digestive enzymes and nutrient metabolism by the intestinal microbiota3. Moreover, the accumulation of mycotoxins in animal tissues can indirectly expose humans to these toxins through the consumption of animal-derived products such as milk and meat.




HOW TO DEACTIVATE MYCOTOXINS IN ANIMAL FEED? 




Olus has developed the Elan®Tox feed additive portfolio, an advanced solution to protect animal health by deactivating mycotoxins in animal feed. Olus can produce the Elan®Tox feed additives in three variants: Bronze, Silver, and Gold. 








Elan®Tox Bronze

Elan®Tox Bronze protects your livestock against the mycotoxins aflatoxin (AFLA), ochratoxin (OTA) and zearalenone (ZEN). The scientifically proven clay minerals in this mycotoxin binder effectively neutralises and deactivates these mycotoxins. The carefully selected clay minerals have excellent Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC) and a large surface area for inorganic adsorption, making them capable of adsorbing up to 90% of aflatoxins.


Elan®Tox Silver

Elan®Tox Silver is effective against a broad spectrum of toxic mycotoxins, these include aflatoxin (AFLA), ochratoxin A (OTA), zearalenone (ZEN), deoxynivalenol (DON), fumonisin (FUM), and T-2 Toxin (T-2). The product is formulated with scientifically proven clay minerals and a unique combination of specific enzymes. This toxin binder converts toxic mycotoxins into non-toxic and environmentally friendly metabolites. The mode of action of this product is through inorganic adsorption, organic adsorption, and biotransformation


Elan®Tox Gold

Elan®Tox Gold is the all-in-one solution in combating the widest range of mycotoxins. This unique mycotoxin deactivator consists of scientifically proven clay minerals, antioxidants, and a unique combination of specific enzymes. This unique combination converts the toxic mycotoxins into non-toxic and environmentally friendly metabolites, which the animal then excretes. On top of that, a mix of herbal extracts protects the animal’s liver and intestinal function against the side effects of mycotoxins.


Extensive research in our research facilities shows that the herbal extracts in Elan®Tox Gold are well accepted by animals, i.e. they are palatable. Mycotoxins reduce appetite in animals by interfering with digestion and nutrient absorption in the animal’s body (microbiota-gut-brain axis). This can lead to reduced growth, weight loss and other health problems. The flavourful mycotoxin binder Elan®Tox Gold can improve feed intake by animals, making them more likely to accept the mycotoxin binder and experience its health benefits.








IN VITRO GASTROINTESTINAL SIMULATION




An in vitro gastrointestinal simulation was used to test the efficacy of the enzymes in Elan®Tox. A value of 100% indicates complete mycotoxin deactivation during the test. A larger number means that more mycotoxins were deactivated. The following mycotoxins were tested in poultry and pigs with different PH values:


    

  • Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1)
    • 

  • Zearalenone (ZEA)
    • 

  • T-2 Toxin
    • 

  • Deoxynivalenol (DON)
    • 

  • Diacetoxyscirpenol (DAS)
    • 

  • Ochratoxin (OTA)
    • 

  • Fumonisin B1 (FB1)
    • 



Test results of comparison study in pig gastrointestinal juice at pH = 2,5




Test results of comparison study in poultry gastrointestinal juice at pH = 4,5






Test results of comparison study in pig gastrointestinal juice at pH = 7,0








CONCLUSION


Effective management of mycotoxins requires practical and cost-effective strategies. The range of Elan®Tox feed additives is the solution that meets these criteria. The in vitro tests put forward here are a strong indicator that Elan®Tox, by using enzymes to break down toxins, excels in maximum inactivation of mycotoxins. Moreover, clay minerals with high CEC efficiently adsorb mycotoxins such as AFB1. This makes our Elan®Tox portfolio a valuable solution for mycotoxin management.


Want to know more about how Elan®Tox can protect your livestock from mycotoxins? Get in touch with our experts. They are always available to help you: https://olusplus.com/contact/


 


References:


    

  1. Sabater-Vilar, M., Malekinejad, H., Selman, M. H. J., Van Der Doelen, M. a. M., & Fink‐Gremmels, J. (2007). In vitro assessment of adsorbents aiming to prevent deoxynivalenol and zearalenone mycotoxicoses.Mycopathologia,163(2). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11046-007-0093-6
    2. 

  2. Xu, R., Kiarie, E., Yiannikouris, A., Sun, L., & Karrow, N. A. (2022). Nutritional impact of mycotoxins in food animal production and strategies for mitigation.Journal of Animal Science and Biotechnology, 13(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40104-022-00714-2
    3. 

  3. Liew, W., & Sabran, M. (2018). Mycotoxin: Its impact on gut health and microbiota. Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology, 8. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcimb.2018.00060
    4. 





 


 


ABOUT THE AUTHOR




Muhammad Suleman – Regional Manager South East Asia and Middle East


Muhammad Suleman, Regional Manager for Southeast Asia and the Middle East, has joined the Olus team since 2023. His involvement with Olus brings a wealth of experience and a deep passion for the poultry industry. With years of experience and extensive knowledge of the complexities of poultry farming, Muhammad has a deep understanding of the market. Within Olus, he is actively involved in developing new feed additives and exploring nutritional strategies to improve gut health and performance in a sustainable way.


 

                    

                            

            
            

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