GLOBAL – Cargill has released its 2022 World Mycotoxin Report where 75% of the more than 300,000 analyzed samples of feed tested contained mycotoxins at levels that were above detection limits.

The report compiled data taken from 150 feed plants, on-farm samplings, and storage locations to provide information on the most problematic mycotoxins, their level of contamination, performance risk rates, and species sensitivity when exposed to a given mycotoxin

“We aim to make the most comprehensive and trusted information available on mycotoxin risk to help livestock farmers protect the health of their animals and operations,” said Gilles Houdart, global additive category director for Cargill’s animal nutrition business.

“With the Cargill World Mycotoxin Report, farmers and feed producers can directly benefit from Cargill’s unique global footprint of animal nutrition expertise,” he added.

Global mycotoxin trends

The report indicated that the more mycotoxins are tested, the more strains are found. For example, testing for six mycotoxins, 84% were positive for four or more mycotoxins.

The report also highlighted performance risk rates, which showed a trajectory upward at 39% representing a 4% increase from 2021. Fumonisin (FUM), Vomitoxin (DON), and Zearalenone (ZEN) were reported as the top three mycotoxins of concern.

The report named China, Asia, North America, and Europe as regions with the highest mycotoxin prevalence and risk levels.

Conversely, the Middle East and Africa (MEA), Central and South America, and Russia show lower risk, though Russia (+11%) and MEA (+9%) have increased overall risk rates.

Russia remains the region with the lowest mycotoxin rate. However, in 2022, an 11% increase was observed with T2, DON, and ZEN contamination rates all doubling.

In MEA, the report showed an increased overall risk with a 9% jump in the region from 2021 with substantial increases in ZEN, T2, FUM, and DON, particularly in corn.

Ingredient trends

On ingredients, corn, cereals, and oils seeds are the key raw materials in the feed industry that were most susceptible to mycotoxins.

 The report indicated that 75% of corn-based ingredients (including all byproducts) analyses were positive for at least one mycotoxin, and 39% were above performance risk thresholds.

DON (63%), ZEN (55%), FUM (44%), and T2 (33%) were most frequently above performance risk levels in corn group analyses.

On the other hand, 81% of cereal-based ingredients analyzed were positive for at least one mycotoxin, and 44% were above performance risk thresholds.

Finally, 68% of oilseeds-based ingredient analyses were positive for at least one mycotoxin, and 22% were above performance risk thresholds.

ZEN (64%), T2 (24%), and AFL (15%) were most frequently positive among analyses and presented the highest over-performance risk thresholds.

The report gave a special focus on bovine, poultry, and swine highlighting important mycotoxins to watch in such categories.

In bovine, DON and ZEN were named the most important while FUM and ZEN are the two big culprits in the poultry sector. DON and FUM are the two big villains in swine.

Impact calculator

As a user and producer working alongside customers around the globe, Cargill developed a first-of-its-kind Mycotoxin Impact Calculator (MIC) to address the question “What is the right approach to manage mycotoxins for my operation”?

According to the report, this in-house tool is the latest in Cargill’s toolbox to help us and customers identify and mitigate mycotoxins with data-backed insights to maximize performance and outcomes for animals and producers’ bottom line.

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