A Detailed Explanation of the Harm of Mycotoxins to Pigs and Prevention Methods
After pigs eat corn contaminated with mycotoxins, symptoms such as stunted growth and development, reproductive disorders (dead sperm, infertility, stillbirth, etc.), emaciation, and reduced disease resistance appear, causing relatively large economic losses to @#@227@#@ production. To make it easier for breeders to judge and prevent and control the problem in time, the symptoms of poisoning by different mycotoxins and their prevention measures are introduced below.
I. Harm of mycotoxins to pigs
1. Aflatoxin. It is the most harmful toxin in pig production. (1) It is the strongest immunosuppressant. After pigs eat feed contaminated by it, the immune system is first disturbed, susceptibility to diseases increases, and the effect of drug treatment is poor. (2) It is a coagulation factor inhibitor, manifested as prolonged uncontrollable bleeding at wounds and petechial hemorrhage in the subserosa, bleeding in the small intestine and colon, etc. (3) It damages the liver, causing decreased liver function, enlarged liver, and reduced bile secretion, leading to a decrease of more than 10% in the utilization rate of protein and fat in feed.
2. Zearalenone. It is a mycotoxin with estrogenic effects that grows on corn, sorghum, and @#@245@#@. Clinical symptoms vary with exposure dose and pig age. Feed containing 1-5 mg/kg of zearalenone can cause early estrus in gilts, vulvar edema, prolapse, and precocious mammary development; increased prepuce size, reduced libido, and smaller testes in young boars; retained corpus luteum, failure to come into estrus, and pseudopregnancy in adult sows; when zearalenone in the feed of pregnant sows exceeds 30 mg/kg, early embryonic death and abortion will occur.
3. Ochratoxin. It is a mold nephrotoxin. Feeding pigs feed containing 1 mg/kg of ochratoxin for 3 months can cause diarrhea, anorexia, and dehydration, with growth retardation and low feed utilization; necropsy often shows pale, hard kidneys, namely rubber kidneys.
4. T-2 toxin. Feeding feed containing T-2 toxin can cause direct skin irritation and necrosis, severe damage to the lymphatic system, gastroenteritis, and reduced feed intake; in severe cases, it leads to refusal to eat, vomiting, or death from cardiovascular failure in pigs.
5. Ergot toxin. Feeding feed containing ergot toxin can cause pigs to show depression, reduced feed intake, and poor overall condition within several days or weeks, usually with lameness of the hind legs, and in severe cases necrosis of the tail, ears, and hooves.
6. Fusarium moniliforme and Fusarium proliferatum. They are commonly present in corn. When the content in feed is higher than 120 mg/kg, they can cause pulmonary edema and pleural effusion, with an incidence rate as high as 50% and a mortality rate of 50-90%.
II. Preventive measures
(1) Feed mills and farms should strictly control the use of feed ingredients contaminated with mycotoxins, and it is strictly forbidden to use moldy and spoiled feed to feed pigs.
(2) For lightly affected corn, soak it in 1.5% sodium hydroxide and plant ash water, then rinse it with clean water multiple times until the soaking liquid becomes clear. However, after treatment it still contains certain toxic substances and must be fed in limited amounts; irradiation and sun exposure can destroy 50-90% of aflatoxin; expansion and pelleting can inhibit the growth of mold spores, but have no effect on the mycotoxins already present in the feed; adding 200-250 grams of allicin per ton of feed can reduce the toxicity of mycotoxins.
(3) Choose effective anti-mold agents and toxin adsorbents. Among the toxin adsorbents currently on the market with relatively good effects are Baianming, Mycotoxin Binder, Toxin Binder, and Mycotoxin Absorbent, etc. The addition amount is 0.05-0.2% depending on the mold contamination of the feed.
III. Treatment measures. After mycotoxin poisoning occurs, feeding of moldy feed should be stopped immediately, high-quality feed should be replaced, and symptomatic treatment should be carried out at the same time.
(1) Use 30-50 grams of sodium sulfate and 50-100 mg of liquid paraffin, add 500-1000 mg of water, and administer by drenching to expel intestinal toxins and protect the intestinal mucosa. (2) If cerebral edema appears, inject 20% mannitol at 1-2 grams/kg body weight intravenously, twice a day. (3) For vaginal prolapse and anal prolapse, first clean and disinfect, then suture by surgical method and treat with anti-inflammatory drugs. (4) When symptoms such as ascites, pulmonary edema, bleeding, kidney swelling, diarrhea, and listlessness appear, intravenous drip of glucose + vitamin C + inosine can be used to protect the liver and kidneys; if necessary, florfenicol can be injected intramuscularly or mixed into feed to control secondary infection.