What causes aflatoxin poisoning in pigs

Aflatoxin is a toxin produced by Aspergillus flavus. It is not easily destroyed in the external environment, and ordinary heating and boiling cannot break down the toxin (Bt toxin is only broken down when heated to 268°C to 269°C). It is a liver-cancer-causing substance. Aspergillus flavus is widely distributed in nature and readily parasitizes and multiplies in corn, peanuts, rice, wheat straw, as well as cottonseed cake, soybean cake, wheat bran and rice bran, producing toxins and causing ordinary grains and their by-products to become moldy and spoiled. At present, people in many regions of our country are accustomed to feeding moldy, spoiled grain or food that is unfit for human consumption to pigs. When pigs eat this moldy, spoiled feed, they become poisoned. Because pig feed contains various grains and abundant nutrients, improper storage can also lead to contamination by Aspergillus flavus. Aspergillus flavus multiplies most readily at temperatures of 24°C to 30°C. In grains and grain and oil processing by-products, if the moisture content reaches 20% to 30%, it multiplies fastest. The most suitable relative temperature for the multiplication of Aspergillus flavus is 30°C. Aspergillus flavus is one of the main molds in corn. When corn has a moisture content of 16.2% to 24.4% and is stored at room temperature, Aspergillus flavus is the most predominant mold.