How You Can Adapt A Comprehensive Strategy Of Mycotoxin Analysis For Your Animal Feed – Alltech MIKO

The contamination of animal feed with growing variations of moulds is leading to the rise of cases of mycotoxin poisoning in livestock. This is of grave concern for livestock farmers due to the subsequent impact on animal health and performance. There is a need for many farmers, producers and feed mills to implement better mycotoxin analysis programs at the feed level to curb this issue from the start. However, a greater part of the contamination is already predominant amongst the animals and there is a need for recovery methods to help reverse the issue quickly. As such, the strategy here should be all-inclusive from the very beginning of the feed cycle to carry on preventative measures whilst also being proactive with recovery and future monitoring to stop the progress of the contamination.

The Alltech mycotoxin management program is dedicated to working towards mycotoxin detection and control in animal feed processing. The Alltech MIKO program is a comprehensive analysis and control programme that can be applied to cross species utilisation. This incredible program has been developed after years of results oriented research. Here is a look at some of the concepts of the program and tips for livestock farmers on how to adapt the points of the strategy for checking the growth of mycotoxin threats in animal feed.

Alltech MIKO

At farm level, the Alltech MIKO steps start at the storage units where Alltech technicians test for mould growths and the condition of the unit. The exposure to rain or humidity delivery patterns are checked to understand the possibility of mould growth in the future. The feed mills are tested at the equipment level to understand the growth of mould during the processing of the feed. A strategy for better maintenance of equipment and storage areas is drawn up and put in to action. Diverse tools like technically engineered binding components are used with the view of restoring and reversing any harmful contamination that might have already spread among the feed as well as the animals.

Tips on adapting the Alltech MIKO strategies

• Start by calling in expert professional help from Alltech to start the hazard analysis program.
• Create critical checkpoints during your feed processes to check for any signs of mould growth at regular intervals.
• Always ensure upper limits of mould growth are enforced so that only high quality feed passes through the inspection.
• Ensure that particular restorative and corrective measures are planned and implemented to reverse the current infection situation with the animals.
• Always check for infection in the animals at regular intervals because some strains of mycotoxins might lie undetected in the feed and a regular check of the animals will reveal infections at the primary level.
• Always have a critical information recording procedure in place to ensure that your monitored data is catalogued for reference throughout your team. Often critical information might remain unnoticed due to simple miscommunication amongst team members.
• Finally, to enforce a hazard analysis program as diverse as this, you will need an enthused and motivated team. Always encourage individual team members to feel responsible towards the success of the program to ensure better success in adaptation.
  

How the Alltech Mycotoxin Management Program Can Break The Cycle Of Livestock Infections from Storage Mycotoxins

Toxicity in animal feed is one of the primary issues that most livestock farmers are facing in modern times. Technology has provided alternative feed arrangements to help livestock farmers cut back on feeding costs. However, the hidden risk associated with feed is low performance and increased animal infections due to storage moulds or Mycotoxins. With the launch of the Alltech Mycotoxins Management program, there is a possibility for farmers and producers to mitigate the threat from Mycotoxins.

Development of mycotoxins in pre-harvest and storage feed

Most varieties of mycotoxins are generated with the growth of the 4 main varieties of moulds pre harvest or with the storage of animal feeds. These moulds lead to the growth of some of the most vicious mycotoxins, which can affect a large variety of species including poultry, pigs, and ruminants. These mycotoxins affect the general health, performance, and reproductive qualities of the animals. Here is a look at these 4 major moulds.

• Fusarium – These are most commonly found in pre harvest crops and can even lead to mycotoxin production in live plants. Once the crops are harvested, the mould disappears but the mycotoxin levels remain constant.
• Aspergillus – One of the easier to find moulds in storage grains that can lead to the growth of mycotoxin levels.
• Pennicillum- Another very popular mould occurring in harvested grains, which leads to the growth of dangerous storage mycotoxins such as roquefortine C, and mycophenolic acid.
• Claviceps – Often leads to the production of masked mycotoxins, which are very difficult to detect under normal scans for toxicity in storage grains.
  

Once the symptoms of Mycotoxin Contamination are found in the livestock, farmers should start the Alltech Mycotoxin Management program to mitigate the threat posed by Mycotoxins – the hidden profit robbers.

Alltech 37+

The Alltech 37+ test is the cornerstone of an effective mycotoxin control program, and has been developed to detect the presence of over 37 different strains of mycotoxins in storage feed. The test can be applied to a number of alternative raw materials commonly used as feed. The test results help form part of a detailed report that can lead to the development of customised results and strategies for individual farms and producers according to particular challenges they face and the type of livestock species involved.

Alltech MIKO

This program has been developed based on the principles of HACCP. The program is an analysis strategy for existing and new feed coming in to your storage. It helps create a strategy that is most likely to break your cycle of mycotoxin contamination that is drastically affecting your animals. The strategy involves creating strategic checkpoints and refining a checking process to help record all vital feed information and monitor new procedures of preparing the feed.