Home
News
Fusarium threat to Canadian pig producers
Swine producers in the Canadian province of Manitoba
are being advised to exercise additional vigilance this year to avoid the
potential consequences of feeding mycotoxin infected feed
grains.
“A lot of the wheat crops are starting to show a lot of fusarium mainly due
to the moist conditions we had at flowering,†observes Manitoba Agriculture Food
and Rural Initiatives (MAFRI) farm production advisor for southwestern Manitoba
Lionel Kaskiw.
Fusarium contaminated grain is of particular concern to
swine producers. Fusarium graminearum, one of the species common in Manitoba,
produces a number of mycotoxins. Deoxynivalenon, or DON, when included in swine
rations, tends to cause feed refusal resulting in slower growth.
When
eaten by pregnant gilts or sows, reproductive performance can be affected. The
mycotoxin, Zearalenone (ZEA) is responsible for a range of breeding and
reproductive problems including infertility or abortion.
The presence of
fusarium in a field doesn't necessarily mean the grain will become contaminated
by mycotoxins or even that yields will be wiped out.
MAFRI specialists
recommend mitigating the inclusion of mycotoxins in swine rations any way
possible, including sourcing non contaminated grain or grains with very low
levels of contamination. Also encouraged is dilution, mixing contaminated grains
with clean grains.
Related Website
•
MAFRI
Subscribe here to the Pig Progress
newsletter
Editor PigProgress
To comment, login here
Or register to be able to comment.