Mycotoxin Matters

In the latest episode of “Mycotoxin Matters,” host Martin Minchin, commercial marketing director at Alltech, is joined by Dr. Alexandra Weaver and Dr. Jules Taylor-Pickard to delve into some comprehensive meta-analyses conducted by Alltech's research teams. These analyses focus on the effects of mycotoxins on monogastric animals like pigs and poultry.   Read the full papers here:  Meta-analysis of the effects of mycotoxins and yeast cell wall extract supplementation on the performance, livability, and environmental sustainability of broiler production - ScienceDirect  Toxins | Free Full-Text | Use of Yeast Cell Wall Extract for Growing Pigs Consuming Feed Contaminated with Mycotoxins below or above Regulatory Guidelines: A Meta-Analysis with Meta-Regression (mdpi.com) Toxins | Free Full-Text | Meta-Analysis of the Effects of Yeast Cell Wall Extract Supple-Mentation during Mycotoxin Challenges on the Performance of Laying Hens (mdpi.com)

The growing monogastric industry in Asia faces significant challenges from mycotoxin contamination in feed, posing serious health risks to animals. Alltech's Asia Import Risk Analysis report offers essential data to help producers manage these risks effectively. Discover more in this episode. 

Discover vital insights on how mycotoxins can affect pig health and their potential implications for producers.  In this episode of Mycotoxin Matters, we are joined by Dr. Alexandra Weaver to explore the findings of a recently published meta-analysis on mycotoxins and pigs.    Read the full paper: https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/15/10/596  

Join Martin Minchin, Dr. Radka Borutova and Dr. Max Hawkins in the latest episode of Mycotoxin Matters. In this episode, they delve into the findings of the 2023 Alltech harvest analysis, focusing on the mycotoxin contamination in various regions across the globe. Learn about the importance of timely mycotoxin analysis for newly harvested grains and how this information can empower feed and livestock producers to make informed decisions.    Access the regional harvest reports:  2023 European Harvest Analysis - Registration | Alltech 2023 Canada Harvest Analysis - Report | Alltech 2023 U.S. Harvest Analysis - Registration | Alltech

Discover the hidden threats to Asia's ruminant industry in the latest Mycotoxin Matters episode. Dive into the world of mycotoxins as Nick Adams and Dr. Ghazanfar Naseer explore the trends, challenges and proactive strategies for managing and mitigating mycotoxin risk. 

Join Martin Minchin, Gordon Marley, and Dr. Radka Borutova in the latest episode of Mycotoxin Matters as they delve into the results of the 2023 Alltech harvest programs in Europe and North America. Discover the differences in mycotoxin risk between U.S. corn silage and European grass silage and learn about practical solutions for livestock producers. 

Discover the standout moments of the 14th World Mycotoxin Forum in Antwerp featuring insights from Dr. Vivi Koletsi and Dr. Alex Yiannikouris in the latest episode of Mycotoxin Matters. As a silver sponsor, Alltech played a significant role with five posters and cutting-edge perspectives on mycotoxin control. Delve into discussions covering crucial topics like transforming data utilization, the EU's ongoing assessment of mycotoxin regulations, and much more.   

In this episode, we turn our attention to poultry breeders and mycotoxins. Leading the discussion is Nick Adams, the Global Director for Mycotoxin Management. Joining him are Paula McCooey, Poultry Manager for Alltech Ireland, and Reg Smith, Strategic Poultry Advisor to Alltech. Uncover the hidden threats mycotoxins pose to bird health, fertility, and overall performance, particularly in high-value breeding stock. This episode also delves into the 2023 harvest challenges stemming from extreme weather events, underscoring the pivotal role of mycotoxin testing and management.

In this episode of Mycotoxin Matters, Dr. Hazel Rooney and Per Laustsen join host Martin Minchin to discuss mycotoxin challenges in swine production. They highlight key mycotoxins affecting swine health, such as DON and zearalenone, the hidden threat of mycotoxins in straw and, they shed light on the importance of regular testing for mycotoxins in feed and raw materials, especially with changing weather patterns impacting crop quality.

Dive into the world of aquaculture in episode #32 of Mycotoxin Matters. Join Dr. Vivi Koletsi, global aqua technical support at Alltech, as she delves into the impact of mycotoxins in shrimp feeds. Uncover hidden threats, emerging mycotoxins, and actionable strategies to ensure shrimp health and sustainable production. 

In the latest episode of Mycotoxin Matters we welcome Dr. Max Hawkins, Alltech Mycotoxin Management and Dr. Jan Dutton, CEO of Prescient Weather Ltd. Prescient Weather creates CropProphet and the World Climate Service. CropProphet is a weather-driven grain yield forecasting system designed to help global agriculture industry participants with an interest in grain quality and yield. Unravel the impact of weather patterns on crop production during the 2023 growing season, and explore the potential risks of extreme weather events on mycotoxins levels. Gain valuable insights into weather's role in agriculture and its influence on the global food supply chain.  

Discover the significant impact of Penicillium mycotoxins on dairy cows in European forages. While North America faces risks from fusarium mycotoxins, Europe experiences higher risks from Penicillium mycotoxins, affecting cow health and performance.  Learn how managing forages and implementing mycotoxin control programs can restore cow health and optimize milk production in our latest podcast episode, featuring Dr. Max Hawkins and Aislínn Campbell. 

In this episode of Mycotoxin Matters, we are joined by Dr. Hazel Rooney and Dr. Radka Borutova to explore the link between pathogens and mycotoxins in pigs. Discover how these hidden threats interact, compromising pig health and industry productivity. Delve into the specific mycotoxins, such as aflatoxins and fumonisins, and the common pathogens that pose a risk. Gain practical insights and innovative solutions to safeguard pig well-being and ensure a thriving swine industry. 

Knowledge is power when it comes to effectively managing the dynamic challenge that mycotoxins pose to the productivity of livestock operations. Choosing the right mycotoxin test for your business is a crucial step in managing this challenge. In this episode of Mycotoxin Matters, we are joined by Dr. Alexandra Weaver to discuss the key differences between the available testing methods and what to consider when choosing a method for your business. 

In this month's episode we are joined by Dr. Alexandra Weaver and Dr. Alexandros Yiannikouris to discuss the category of emerging mycotoxins. As our laboratory analysis for mycotoxins becomes more adaptable, we are observing a growing number of members in the emerging mycotoxins group. Consequently, individuals from this group are now more commonly detected than prominent mycotoxins like DON and fumonisin. Understanding the prevalence of these mycotoxins is crucial, especially since recent studies associate their existence with adverse performance in specific species. Discover more about the prevalence and research with emerging mycotoxins in this episode. 

In this episode of Mycotoxin Matters, we are joined by Gordon Marley, Global Silage Support Lead at Alltech who takes us back to basics on forage management.  Forage quality has become an important topic globally, as beef and dairy producers have sought to increase animal productivity and make more use of total mixed rations or TMRS. Learn more about the potential losses and each stage of the forage production process, in order to maximize and optimize the volume and quality of forage produced on farm, in this episode. 

Over the past few months, Alltech field teams have been actively working with their customers and partners to assess what is the mycotoxin risk attached to new crop grains and forages coming out of harvest 2022. In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Radka Borutova and Dr. Max Hawkins to discuss the 2022 Harvest Analysis programme and what information we can glean from the results in relation to mycotoxin risk. 

A year that promised so much for Indian corn producers turned out much the opposite when crops began being harvested. Fertiliser shortages, adverse weather conditions and pest damage all played a role in driving down the yield and quality of both the earlier and later harvests (Rabi and Kharif). In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Lokesh Gupta and Raksha PR to discuss the findings from the 2022 harvest analysis program in India. 

In recent years, with a look to creating a healthier and more sustainable diet, plant-based alternatives such as dairy and meat substitutes have been developed in order to reduce the consumption of animal-based foods. As these plant-based alternatives continue to develop and expand within the market, the question arises: 'what do we know about the mycotoxin-related health impacts of shifting to a plant-based diet?'  We are joined by Professor Chiara Dall'Asta to discuss a study that was recently published in the Journal of Exposure and Health, which assessed this topic. Professor Dall'Asta is currently an associate professor of food chemistry at the Department of Food Science at the University of Parma in Italy and is a well-known and highly respected researcher in the area of mycotoxins. In addition to her research activities, she is also an expert member of several working groups of the European Food Safety Authority.  

Since Alltech was founded in the 1980s, it has been a pioneer of mycotoxin research, with over 170 peer-reviewed studies published to date, detailing a robust, multi-faceted exploration of mycotoxins' impact on animal systems and their remediation. Learn more about the evolution of mycotoxin control, the research that supported it, and what future research could look like in our latest podcast episode with Dr. Yiannikouris, research group director at Alltech, and Dr. Kudupoje, research scientist at Alltech. 

In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Stephen Ross and Dr. Alexandra Weaver to dicuss the new meta-analysis recently published in Poultry Science. This study investigates the effects of mycotoxins on broiler performance, livability, and environmental sustainability, as well as the positive effect of yeast cell wall extract supplementation during a mycotoxin challenge. 

As we move into the crucial part of the growing and harvesting season, the effects of the challenging weather conditions, particularly in the northern hemisphere, raise questions around the mycotoxin risk of lower quality ingredients. We are joined by Dr. Max Hawkins to discuss this concept and what impact these weather conditions have on various grains globally in terms of the quality and variability.

The Alltech Feed Mill Workshop is a unique educational experience designed to deliver expert knowledge in all aspects of feed milling. This year's workshop covered topics such as biosecurity, new technologies, sustainability and education. Learn more about the workshop, this year's key themes and the current issues impacting the feed milling industry with our guests Dr. Wilmer Pacheco and Josh Teulker. 

This month, we are delighted to be joined once again by Dr. Radka Borutova, and for the first time by Dr. Alexandros Yiannikouris. After two years of being hosted as online events, both the World Mycotoxin Forum and the Alltech ONE Conference returned to in-person formats in May, with attendees excited to travel and meet again outside of the virtual world. In this episode, we discuss the key themes and takeaways from these events.   

The reliance on marine-based ingredients has been problematic for the aquaculture feed industry for many years. The industry still has some ways to go in producing a fish meal-free diet across all species, but R&D developments in this area have highlighted that fish do not require fishmeal to grow and perform optimally. Find out more about Alltech Coppens approach to successfully managing the mycotoxin risk at an aqua feed mill. 

The instability from the conflict in Ukraine has dramatically shifted the thinking around the European Green Deal. We are joined by Nicolas Body and Ciarán Black to explore the possible implications of the conflict in Ukraine for the EU Green Deal and for European crop producers. 

Harvest 2021, across the key grain-growing regions of the Northern Hemisphere, suffered under turbulent weather conditions. Europe experienced a combination of drought in southern regions, while further north, heavy rains and flooding dominated. These rains continued throughout the harvest season, leading to challenges with grain and forage quality, and subsequent mycotoxin contamination. We are joined by Dr. Radka Borutova and Per Lausten to help us uncover the mycotoxin risk in straw. 

This month, we are taking a closer look at the mycotoxin risk in the aquaculture industry. We are delighted to be joined by Alltech's Henry Wong, Commercial Director for aqua business in Asia. 

Welcome to 2022! To kick off the year, we are once again joined by Dr. Max Hawkins to review some of the key results from Alltech's annual harvest analyses programs. 

Today, we are delighted to be joined by special guest, Cesar Infante, Vice President of Digital Business Development at Alltech. This episode explores how we can reap more of the huge rewards that data has to offer to the agricultural industry.

Unfortunately, it is not possible to entirely prevent the production of mycotoxins before harvest of agricultural crops, in storage or during processing operations. Nevertheless, consulting nutritionists and veterinarians, along with applying mycotoxin management solutions, can help to minimise the effects of mycotoxin challenges.

In our latest episode, we are joined by Alltech's Feed Mill Specialist, Josh Teulker, to help you prepare your feed mill for the upcoming harvest season. 

Produced by moulds and fungi, eliminating poor-quality ingredients can help control mycotoxins in dairy cow feed intake. However, due to the invisible nature of these toxic compounds, even without signs of mould, there can still be a threat of contamination, making mycotoxin detection more complex. We are joined by Elite Dairy Advisor, Dr. Luke Miller, to learn how to manage mycotoxins in a dairy herd. 

Did you know mycotoxins can also be present in fish? Today, we are joined by Alltech's International Project Manager for aquaculture,  John Sweetman, to look into the topic of mycotoxin contamination in this species. 

Pigs are particularly susceptible to the risk posed by mycotoxins. Ingestion of contaminated feed may impair a pig's cellular and tissue integrity, leading to an unhealthy imbalance of different physiological systems. These cause organ malfunction that results in depressed pig performance, decreased immunity and reduced health status. We welcome back Dr. Radka Borutova in this episode, to explore the topic of recognising the warning signs of mycotoxins in pigs. 

What do we know so far about gut health and mycotoxins? Today, we are joined by Dr. Alexandra Weaver to explore this complex topic; including a discussion on ways different mycotoxins can affect gut health and why this is so important to animal health and performance. 

The climate impact on crop quality and subsequent mycotoxin contamination poses a continuous risk to healthy and efficient ruminant production. This mycotoxin risk can be further increased by harvest and storage conditions that are less than ideal. Although mycotoxins are an unavoidable problem, some key management practices can help reduce the risk attached to forages and ruminant feeds. We are joined by Dr. Max Hawkins for a discussion on how to manage the mycotoxin challenge in forages. 

Brian Springer, certified crop advisor, joins us for a discussion around growing crops and what can be done to reduce the risk of mycotoxins that we see in our feedstuffs.  

Join us for part 2 of our discussion on climate change and mycotoxins. In this episode we are joined by Dr. Radka Borutova, European Technical Support Manager for Alltech Mycotoxin Management, as we delve deeper into the area of climate change and explore exactly how climate change will affect mycotoxins in feed and food. 

In our second episode, we are joined by Dr. Dulmelis Sandu, Poultry Veterinarian, for a discussion on why mycotoxin exposure should be considered as one of the potential causes of immunosuppression in animals, in particular, poultry.

In our first episode, we discuss how changing weather patterns and agricultural practices are impacting the feed supply chain, and how producers are finding ways to manage. Dr. Mark Lyons, President and CEO of Alltech also shares how the company's Planet of Plenty mission is reshaping how Alltech puts sustainability into action.