Farmscape for October 20, 2005  (Episode 1944)

A University of Manitoba researcher warns high levels of fusarium head blight will challenge the feed industry's ability to meet this year's demand for cereal grains.

Surveys show the severity of fusarium head blight has declined in Saskatchewan this year but the fungal disease has been widespread in Manitoba.

The recommended maximum in swine rations is one part per million of DON, the mycotoxin produced by fusarium graminearum.

However University of Manitoba barley feeding trials show grow-finish pigs can tolerate levels as high as four PPM while breeding sows can handle up to two PPM.

Associate Professor Dr. Jim House says producers have a number of options available for managing DON.

Clip-Dr. Jim House-University of Manitoba 

Some of the options include dilution with clean stock to make sure that you're getting levels below two parts per million down to that one part per million level.

If you know that you've got evidence of feed refusal get the grains tested and, if it is possible to dilute further or to source cleaner grains, then do that.

One of the things that we've been looking at is whether or not there are some opportunities for removing the mycotoxins from the grains.

Certainly pearling or dehulling is effective.

We're able to use that grain.

In studies with early weaned pigs basically we get excellent performance using the pearled grains.

Not only do we remove the mycotoxin to a significant extent but we also improve the digestible energy and digestible amino acid levels in the barley by removing the hull fraction which has an energy dilution effect.

Dr. House says, considering the infrastructure costs, the challenge with pearling is to develop an economically viable system.

For Farmscape.Ca, I'm Bruce Cochrane.

       *Farmscape is a presentation of Sask Pork and Manitoba Pork Council