Farmscape for February 16, 2011   (Episode 3518)

A researcher with the University of Manitoba says there are several strategies pork producers can use to minimize the effects of the mycotoxins produced by molds that attack feed grains.

Mycotoxins are toxic metabolites produced by fungi, or molds, that infect cereal grains and other feed ingredients and, while there are several molds that infect feed grains in Canada, fusarium graminearum which produces deoxynivalenol or DON is of particular concern.

Dr. Jim House, the head of the University of Manitoba's Department of Human Nutritional Sciences, says there is an increased likelihood of finding mycotoxins in years where there is fungal disease pressure.

Clip-Dr. Jim House-University of Manitoba:
There's a number of strategies.

One of them is avoidance which sounds simple but it really isn't.

There's a number of agronomic approaches, there's a lot of effort being developed into developing fusarium resistant germplasm for both wheat and barley so that they are more resistant to the infection and then are less likely to have the mycotoxins present, following proper crop rotation, avoiding planting wheat for example right after corn.

Also, one of the practical solutions to dealing with known contaminated grain is to use dilution so just diluting it with clean grain to get to levels that are within acceptable parameters.

Another strategy would be to look at physical methods of detoxification.

We've done work looking at removal of the outer hull of the cereal grains, in particular barley.

If you just get rid the hull of barley you can get rid of over 70 percent of the mycotoxins present on the exterior surface of the grain.

It's a very effective way of removing the mycotoxins.

The challenge now is really an engineering challenge, to develop equipment that could be implemented within a feed mill setting to effectively remove the outer hull in a cost-effective manner.

Dr. House says, while the presence of mold is a strong indication of a deterioration of feed grain quality and should raise a red flag to the potential for the presence of mycotoxins, it may not always mean mycotoxins are present so producers need to be vigilant and be testing for mycotoxins.

For Farmscape.Ca, I'm Bruce Cochrane.

-Dr. House addressed the 40th annual Banff Pork Seminar last month.

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