Impact of Mycotoxins on Pig Production

Feed for agricultural animals frequently contains mycotoxins. Mycotoxins have a great potential to harm sows and gilts. This chapter provides an overview of the primary mycotoxins found in pig feed that impair sow fertility and reproduction. Depending on the type of mycotoxin, the amount and length of exposure, the animal’s health and condition at the time of exposure, and other factors, eating feed contaminated with these mycotoxins can result in a wide range of symptoms. It is known that there are two kinds of fungi: storage fungi and field fungi. Toxins produced by field fungi such as Fusarium species, Aspergillus species, and Claviceps species can impair reproductive function. If the humidity is too high while being stored, storage fungus will grow. In everyday life, mycotoxicosis symptoms might manifest at levels of toxin below the limit of detection. The consequences of mycotoxins are becoming more and better understood. Due to the existence of hot spots in feed and/or feedstuffs, mycotoxins may still be present in feedstuffs even in the case of negative analytical results. Clinical signs can be fairly prominent, which makes the practitioner’s diagnosis relatively simple. However, in many situations, the symptoms are ambiguous or non-existent at all at the herd level on a regular basis. Whenever there is even the slightest suspicion that a mycotoxicosis issue may be leading to reproductive failure in breeding pigs, the practitioner is in the forefront of educating all parties involved. Only by taking the required precautionary steps and activities will all parties concerned in the health of the pig herd be able to fix the issues. This chapter mostly discusses aflatoxins, ergot alkaloids, trichothecenes, and zearalenone as the primary toxins that cause reproductive failure.