Swine diets consisting primarily of corn have the highest risk of mycotoxin exposure from spoilage in fields or storage of corn. Mycotoxins thrive in the presence of mold on the corn itself, so areas of the country that have higher humidity are at higher risk of mycotoxin introduction.

Mycotoxins are toxic secondary metabolites produced by fungi that grow on crops in the field, during handling and storage. Molds produce mycotoxins under a wide range of conditions. They enter the animal production system through feed (concentrate, silage or forage) or through bedding. Some toxins tend to be more common in temperate or tropical climates, but most molds and mycotoxins are found throughout the world. Mycotoxins non-constructively affect animal performance, animal health and product quality.

Mycotoxin control is critical to production economics and product quality. Mycotoxins show their effects in four different ways:

1. Reduction of consumption or rejection of food

2. Alteration in the nutrient content of the feed in terms of absorption and metabolism of nutrients

3. Effects on the endocrine and exocrine systems

4. Suppression of the immune system

Mycotoxins show a variety of biological results:

1. Hepatic and renal toxicity

2. Central nervous system malfunction

3. Fertility and reproduction problems

4. Effect on immunity

5. Mycotoxins are also deposited in the food supply chain (eg milk, eggs, meat) and therefore pose a risk to human health.

Long-term goals should be to decrease the amounts of mycotoxin exposure through the use of mold inhibitors and control of their food sources. It is important to remember that mold inhibitors cannot destroy mycotoxins.

Mold inhibitors are used as feed additives to reduce the level of mold growth in grain storage facilities, thus minimizing the risk of mycotoxin-producing grains spreading through feed. The most commonly used are propionic acid and other organic acids. However, preventing mold growth does not actually address the existing mycotoxins present in contaminated food.

Mycotoxin binders are substances that actually capture mycotoxins in the system from moldy grain exposure and prevent them from being absorbed into the gut and bloodstream of the animal. If other mold containment attempts have failed, a mycotoxin binder will fix the problem.

If it is too expensive to routinely test for mycotoxins or mold exposure, the periodic addition of a mycotoxin-binding product will keep livestock free of mycotoxicosis.

T-BINDTM has been shown to capture more than just aflatoxins like most other competitive products and will resist other mycotoxins such as vomitoxin.