Use of thermally treated clays in animal feeds

A method of promoting weight gain in an animal by feeding the animal calcined attapulgite which reduces adverse effects of a mycotoxin present in an animal food formulation. The calcined attapulgite is obtained by heating an attapulgite clay at or above 300.degree. F. The calcined attapulgite can be fed to an animal in any form either before, after, or during intake of food by the animal. Furthermore, a mixture of calcined attapulgite and bentonite may be used, instead of calcined attapulgite itself. Also provided is an animal feed composition for promoting weight gain including calcined attapulgite. Such a composition reduces adverse effects of a mycotoxin-contaminated animal feed. The composition may further contain a bentonite clay.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates generally to methods and compositions of 
promoting weight gain in an animal by reducing adverse effects of a 
mycotoxin present in animal feeds. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Mycotoxins are a group of structurally diverse, mold elaborated compounds 
that induce diseases known as mycotoxicosis in humans and animals. As much 
as twenty-five percent of the world's food crops are estimated to be 
contaminated with mycotoxins. Ingestion of sufficient quantities of 
mycotoxin-contaminated material leads to acute, and more commonly, chronic 
intoxication. As secondary mold metabolites, mycotoxins may contaminate 
animal feeds and human food ingredients in the absence of intact fungal 
elements. In many instances, processing of feed stuff may mask the 
presence of mold growth without concomitant destruction of mycotoxins. 
Mycotoxin-contaminated animal feeds and human foods are consumed 
worldwide, although their adverse health effects are not fully recognized. 
When a mycotoxicosis occurs in animals, it affects their health and 
reduces production efficiency because of increased susceptibility to 
infectious agents as a result of immune suppression. This has grave 
economic consequences. Furthermore, ingestion of such animals may have 
subtle health effects on humans which are not currently understood. 
Although it is known that fungi are capable of producing mycotoxins that 
frequently contaminate the food consumed by humans and animals, precise 
factors that initiate mycotoxin production are not well defined. The exact 
type and extent of the mycotoxin contamination is a function of mold 
types, growth conditions during the crop season, and storage practices. 
Mycotoxins of major concern include aflatoxin, zearalenone, fumonosin, 
ochratoxin, vomitoxin, etc. 
Aflatoxins are a group of potent liver toxins produced mainly by strains of 
Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus, which coexist with and 
grow on almost any crop or food. They are designated as aflatoxin B.sub.1, 
B.sub.2, G.sub.1, G.sub.2, M.sub.1, etc. The most abundant and toxic 
member of aflatoxins under natural contamination is aflatoxin B.sub.1, 
which is one of the most potent known hepatocarcinogens. Aflatoxins 
depress carbohydrate metabolism, decrease protein synthesis, impair lipid 
transport and key enzyme systems, and reduce natural defense mechanisms in 
animals. Generally, young animals are more susceptible to the toxic 
effects than mature animals. Poultry are more sensitive to the adverse 
effects of aflatoxins than mammals. Among domestic mammals, the 
approximate order of sensitivity from most to least is: dogs&gt;young 
swine&gt;pregnant sows&gt;calves&gt;fattening pigs&gt;mature cattle&gt;sheep. The 
relative resistance of mature ruminants is a result of rumen 
detoxification mechanisms. 
Clinical aflatoxicosis is primarily a reflection of liver dysfunction. 
Subacute aflatoxicosis in swine is characterized by decreased feed 
conversion efficiency, depressed growth, toxic hepatitis, ictus, toxic 
nephritis, and hemorrhage enteritis. Daily exposure to aflatoxin for more 
than 7-10 days results in liver lesions of fibrosis, edema of the gall 
bladder, centrilobular hemorrhage, fatty change, cnecrosis, and biliary 
hyperplasia. In swine rations, dietary levels of 2-4 ppm aflatoxin lead to 
acute fatal toxicosis while rations containing 260 ppb for several weeks 
cause reduced growth rate. A protein-deficient diet enhances the toxicity 
of aflatoxin, while a high protein diet is somewhat ameliorating. There is 
extensive evidence that aflatoxin depresses cell mediated immune function, 
thus lowering the resistance of several animal species to bacterial, 
fungal and parasitic infections. 
Cattle, sheep, and other ruminants appear less susceptible to aflatoxin 
than monogastric mammals or poultry. Calves, which are functionally 
monogastrics, are more susceptible than mature cattle. Generally, rations 
containing 1-2 ppm aflatoxin fed to mature cattle for a few weeks result 
in reduced weight gain and depressed milk production. Rations with as 
little as 1 ppm aflatoxin are lethal to steers within 60 days. 
Aflatoxicosis in cattle is mainly manifested by symptoms such as 
depression, anorexia, reduced growth, decreased milk production, subnormal 
body temperature and dry muzzle. As in several other species, lesions in 
the liver include fatty degeneration, vacuolated liver cells, liver 
necrosis, bile duct proliferation, and diffuse fibrosis. 
Zearalenone is another mycotoxin of concern. It is a resorcyclic lactone 
produced primarily by fusarium roseum. This mycotoxin has been detected in 
corn, wheat, barley, oats, sorghum, rice, sesame, commercial rations, corn 
silage, corn meal and corn flakes. Zearalenone induces estrogenic effects 
in many species. Organs normally receptive to estrogenic compounds include 
tabular organs of female reproductive tract, ovaries, and mammae. 
Prepubertal female swine are most sensitive to zearalenone. They may 
ultimately develop rectal and vaginal prolapses. Other reported problems 
in female swine include anestrus, contraception failure, pseudopregnancy, 
decreased pigs per litter, and abortion. Zearalenone also induces 
feminization in immature male swine characterized by testicular atrophy, 
swelling of the prepuse and mammary glands. Mature male swine are highly 
resistant to the effects of zearalenone. Unusually high concentrations of 
zearalenone in cattle rations lead to infertility and udder enlargement. 
In an effort to minimize the effect of mycotoxin-contaminated food 
supplies, numerous methods have been developed to control the formation of 
mycotoxins, to detoxify, or to decontaminate the contaminated foodstuff. 
Traditional methods of dealing with grains contaminated with mycotoxins 
are: blending a contaminated grain with a clean grain to reduce the 
contamination level, screening or using other means of physical separation 
to remove the highly contaminated grain, and ammoniation or heating to 
detoxify the contaminated grain. Although ammoniation of animal feeds 
results in a significant degradation of aflatoxins in peanuts, corn seed 
meals, and corn, the economic liability of ammoniation precludes it from 
practical applications. 
In the meantime, various clays have been used as aflatoxin binders in 
animal feeds. For example, a montmorillonite clay mixed with a 
mycotoxin-contaminated animal feed was fed to animals to increase the 
nutritional value of the feed. Similarly, an acid-activated calcium 
bentonite clay mixed with a contaminated feed was fed to an animal to 
increase weight gain of the animal. In addition, a phyllosilicate material 
was also found to be capable of inactivating mycotoxins in an animal feed. 
Although these methods achieved varying degree of success in reducing 
adverse effects of a single mycotoxin, they are generally not effective 
against a group of mycotoxins such as aflatoxin, fumonosin, ochratoxin, 
zearalenone, and the like. Because some or all of the mycotoxins 
frequently contaminate animal feeds, there is a need for a method and a 
animal feed composition which is effective in decreasing adverse effects 
of some or all of the mycotoxins, thereby promoting weight gain in 
animals. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, an animal feed 
composition for promoting weight gain in an animal includes a calcined 
attapulgite clay in an amount sufficient to reduce adverse effects of a 
mycotoxin present in an animal feed formulation. In some embodiments, the 
calcined attapulgite is in an amount of at least 0.25% by weight of the 
food formulation. In other embodiments, the mycotoxin present in an animal 
feed formulation includes at least one of aflatoxin, fumonosin, ochratoxin 
and zearalenone. 
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, an animal feed 
composition for promoting weight gain in an animal includes a calcined 
attapulgite clay and a bentonite clay in an amount sufficient to reduce 
adverse effects of a mycotoxin present in an animal feed formulation. In 
some embodiments, the calcined attapulgite clay and the bentonite clay are 
in an amount of at least 0.25% by weight of the food formulation 
respectively. In other embodiments, the mycotoxin present in an animal 
feed formulation includes at least one of aflatoxin, fumonosin, ochratoxin 
and zearalenone. 
In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, an animal 
feed composition for promoting weight gain in an animal includes a 
calcined attapulgite clay in an amount of at least 0.5% by weight of an 
animal food formulation. The animal food formulation includes at least 20 
parts per billion of a mycotoxin selected from the group consisting of 
aflatoxin, fumonosin, ochratoxin and zearalenone. In some embodiments, the 
animal feed composition further includes a bentonite clay in an amount of 
at least 0.5% by weight of the animal food formulation. 
In another aspect, the invention relates to a method of promoting weight 
gain in an animal. The method includes feeding a calcined attapulgite clay 
to the animal in an amount sufficient to reduce adverse effects of a 
mycotoxin present in an animal food formulation. In some embodiments, the 
calcined attapulgite fed to the animal is mixed with the animal food 
formulation. In other embodiments, the calcined attapulgite is fed to the 
animal in an amount of at least 0.25% by weight of the animal food 
formulation. In still other embodiments, the mycotoxin present in the 
animal food formulation includes at least one of aflatoxin, fumonosin, 
ochratoxin and zearalenone. 
In another aspect, the present invention relates to a method of promoting 
weight gain in an animal. The method includes feeding a calcined 
attapulgite clay and a bentonite clay to the animal in an amount 
sufficient to reduce adverse effects of a mycotoxin present in the animal 
food formulation. In some embodiments, the calcined attapulgite clay and 
the bentonite clay are mixed with the animal food formulation. In other 
embodiments, the calcined attapulgite clay and the bentonite clay are in 
an amount of at least 0.25% of the formulation by weight respectively. In 
still other embodiments, the mycotoxin present in the animal food 
formulation includes at least one of aflatoxin, fumonosin, ochratoxin and 
zearalenone. 
In another aspect, the invention relates to a method of promoting weight 
gain in an animal. The method includes feeding a calcined attapulgite to 
the animal in an amount of at least 0.25% of an animal food formulation. 
The animal food formulation includes at least 20 parts per billion of at 
least one mycotoxin selected from the group consisting of aflatoxin, 
fumonosin, ochratoxin and zearalenone. In some embodiments, the method 
further includes feeding a bentonite clay to the animal in an amount of at 
least 0.25% by weight of the animal food formulation. 
In another aspect, the invention relates to a method of manufacturing an 
animal feed composition for promoting weight gain in an animal. The method 
includes adding a calcined attapulgite clay to an animal food formulation. 
The calcined attapulgite is in an amount sufficient to reduce adverse 
effects of a mycotoxin present in the animal food formulation. 
In another aspect, the invention relates to a method of manufacturing an 
animal feed formulation for promoting weight gain in an animal. This 
method includes adding a calcined attapulgite clay and a bentonite clay to 
an animal food formulation. The calcined attapulgite clay and the 
bentonite clay are in an amount sufficient to reduce adverse effects of a 
mycotoxin present in the animal food formulation. 
Further aspects, features and advantages will become apparent from the 
following.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
The invention is based upon the discovery that calcined attapulgite, when 
fed to an animal, reduces the adverse effects of mycotoxins and promotes 
weight gain in the animal. It is also found that the calcined attapulgite 
is even more effective when used in combination with a bentonite clay. The 
particular form of the clay, e.g., powdered, granular, compressed, dried, 
wet, noncompressed, pelletized, and the like, is not critical so long as 
the animal ingests the calcined attapulgite before, after or during the 
ingestion of the mycotoxin-contaminated animal feed. 
Attapulgite, named from its occurrence at Attapulgus, Ga., possesses 
chain-like structures or combination chain-sheet structures. Attapulgite 
clay is composed principally of the mineral attapulgite, a crystalline 
hydrated magnesium aluminum silicate. It may also contain some impurities 
such as calcium carbonate, quartz and feldspar, and in some cases, 
sepiolite. A typical analysis of attapulgite yields 55.03% SiO.sub.2, 
10.24% Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, 3.53% Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3, 10.49% MgO, 0.47% K.sub.2 
O, 9.73% H.sub.2 O removed at 150.degree. C., and 10.13% H.sub.2 O removed 
at higher temperatures. 
The attapulgite clay used in embodiments of the invention is obtained from 
mines in Attapulgus, Ga. Chunks of attapulgite are ground into powder 
form. Wet screen analysis of the powder indicates that about 20 to 25% of 
the powder passes a 325 mesh screen and about 3 to 5% of the powder passes 
a 200 mesh screen. Dry screen analysis of the same powder indicates that 
about 93 to 96% of the powder passes a 200 mesh screen. It should, 
however, be understood that the particle distribution disclosed here is 
not intended as a limitation, but an illustration of a preferred 
embodiment. Furthermore, the attapulgite clay necessary to practice 
embodiments of the invention is not limited to the one obtained from mines 
of Attapulgus, Ga. Any attapulgite clay will suffice. 
Calcination of attapulgite may be conducted in any apparatus conventional 
in the art, for example, a rotary calciner. The calcination should be 
carried out at a temperature at or above 300.degree. F., and preferably 
within the range of 300.degree. F. to 1200.degree. F. In a preferred 
embodiment, attapulgite clay is calcined at a temperature between 800 and 
900.degree. F. for about 25 minutes, although a variation from 15 to 50 
minutes is also acceptable. The clay is then ground to a fine powder. It 
should be understood that it is also acceptable to grinde attapulgite clay 
into powder first and then calcine the powder subsequently. 
The following examples illustrate embodiments of the invention and are not 
restrictive of the invention as other-wise described herein. 
EXAMPLE 1 
To evaluate the ability of calcined attapulgite to absorb mycotoxins, 
in-vitro binding capacity studies were conducted with respect to calcined 
and non-calcined attapulgite. Aflatoxin B.sub.1, fumonosin B.sub.1, 
ochratoxin A and zearalenone were selected in the in-vitro studies, 
although other mycotoxins may also be used. The general testing procedure 
was as follows: 
Duplicate aliquots of a phosphate buffer (pH=3) mycotoxin solution (50 ml) 
was added to 100 ml screw cap polypropylene bottles which contained 0.5 
gram of a clay to be tested. The bottles were placed on a rotator shaker 
for 30 minutes at room temperature. A 5 ml aliquot of each mycotoxin test 
solution was then centrifuged at 3000 rpm for 10 minutes and 2 ml of the 
aqueous supernatant was removed for mycotoxin analysis. 
High Pressure Liquid Chromatography ("HPLC") was used for mycotoxin 
analysis. An aliquot of the original buffered mycotoxin test solution was 
used as an HPLC standard for each mycotoxin. HPLC analyses were performed 
on a Perkin-Elmer Model 250 liquid chromatograph pump equipped with an 
auto-sampler, a Perkin-Elmer 8.3 or 3.0 cm C18 column (3 .mu. particle 
size), and a Perkin-Elmer LS-4 fluorescence spectrophotometer for 
fluorescence detection. The flow rate of the mobile phase was 1 ml/min. 
The mobile phases and detection wavelengths for each mycotoxin analysis 
are listed in Table 1. 
TABLE 1 
______________________________________ 
Mycotoxin Mobile Phase Detection 
______________________________________ 
Aflatoxin B.sub.1 
water:methanol:propanol 
F: ex 365 nm 
(40:17:2) em 430 nm 
Fumonosin B.sub.1 
acetone nitrile:1% aqueous KCl: 
F: ex 335 
acetic acid (40:60:1) 
em 450 nm 
Ochratoxin A 
methanol:water:acetic acid 
F: ex 365 
(40:60:1) em 450 nm 
Zearalenone 
methanol:water (35:45) 
F: ex 274 
em 465 nm 
______________________________________ 
The results of the in-vitro binding studies are presented in Table 2. The 
numbers in Table 2 represent the percentage of a mycotoxin bound by a 
particular clay. Mycotoxin concentrations used in these analyses were as 
follows: aflatoxin B.sub.1 at 2 ppm, fumonosin B.sub.1 at 4 ppm, 
ochratoxin A at 4 ppm and zearalenone at 2 ppm. 
TABLE 2 
______________________________________ 
Aflatoxin Fumonosin Ochratoxin 
Clay B.sub.1 B.sub.1 A Zearalenone 
______________________________________ 
Non-calcined 
95.5% 30% N/A 0.0% 
Attapulgite 
Calcined 
100% 83% 78% 95.1% 
Attapulgite 
______________________________________ 
The data in Table 2 show that calcined attapulgite is more effective in 
binding aflatoxin than uncalcined attapulgite. More importantly, calcined 
attapulgite is significantly better than uncalcined attapulgite in binding 
fumonosin, ochratoxin, and zearalenone. Because most digestive systems in 
non-ruminants are at approximately pH 3, the in-vitro studies were 
conducted at a pH around 3. But it should be understood that similar 
effects are expected at other pH values as well as for other mycotoxins. 
EXAMPLE 2 
In-vivo studies were conducted in swine to evaluate the effects of calcined 
attapulgite in animals. The procedure used to evaluate the effectiveness 
of calcined attapulgite against aflatoxin and zearalenone in swine was as 
follows: 
Four-week old swine were weighed, tagged with plastic ear tags and placed 
in confinement with five pigs per pen. Animal feed was provided once a day 
in communal feeders, and water was available ad libitum. The feed was a 
food formulation containing corn, soybean meal, and a premix designed as a 
starter ration for young pigs. The composition of the formulation was as 
follows: 1054 lbs. ground corn, 500 lbs. 48% bean meal, 200 lbs dried 
whey, 60 lbs. animal fat, 50 lbs. sprayed dried blood meal (AP 301, 
American Proteins), 50 lbs pellet binder, 44 lbs. bi-calcium phosphate 
sold under the tradename of "DiCal," 10 lbs limestone, 2 lbs. L-lysine, 1 
lb. dl-methionine, 1.5 lbs. copper sulfate, 5 lbs vitamin premix such as a 
UMC vitamin premix, and 3 lbs. trace mineral premix such as a UMC trace 
mineral premix. The amount of calcined attapulgite used in the studies was 
about 1% by weight of the food formulation. The amount of aflatoxin 
B.sub.1 and zearalenone used was 1 ug/g and 4.0 ug/g of the food 
formulation respectively. 
It should be understood that the food formulation is not limited to the 
above composition and weight percentage. Any formulation that provides 
nutrients to an animal may be used. Similarly, a person of ordinary skill 
in the art will recognize that a higher level of a mycotoxin or a lower 
level of a mycotoxin, e.g., 20 ppb, may be used and like results should 
follow. Furthermore, it should also be understood that any amount of 
calcined attapulgite is acceptable so long as the amount is sufficient to 
effectively reduce adverse effects of a mycotoxin. For example, calcined 
attapulgite in the amount of 0.25% of an animal food formulation should 
suffice. 
Before a mycotoxin was added to a feed, a mycotoxin screen was done on this 
feed to confirm the absence of exogenous mycotoxins. Pigs were randomly 
assigned to six treatment groups: (1) food formulation only, (2) food 
formulation and calcined attapulgite only, (3) food formulation and 
aflatoxin, (4) food formulation, aflatoxin and calcined attapulgite, (5) 
food formulation and zearalenone, and (6) food formulation, zearalenone 
and calcined attapulgite. Pigs were weighed on study days 0, 4, 8, 11, 15 
and 17. Absolute growth rates were calculated (Kg/day). The absolute 
growth rate is the amount of body weight gain in kilograms per day. Blood 
samples were also taken from each pig on days 0, 4, 11 and 18 and used for 
serum chemistry analysis. On day 18, all pigs were sacrificed for 
necropsy. The liver and the reproductive tract of each pig were analyzed. 
All pigs were examined for growth abnormalities. 
The absolute growth rates obtained for all of the groups studied are 
summarized in Table 3 and FIG. 1. The results of these studies reveal that 
pigs fed food formulations mixed with calcined attapulgite and aflatoxin 
grew at significantly greater absolute rates than did those fed a food 
formulation with aflatoxin alone. In addition, pigs fed a food formulation 
mixed with zearalenone and calcined attapulgite gained more weight than 
those fed a food formulation with zearalenone only. 
TABLE 3 
__________________________________________________________________________ 
Food Food 
Food Formulation + Formulation + 
Food Formulation + 
Food Aflatoxin B.sub.1 + 
Food Zearalenone + 
Formulation 
Calcined 
Formulation + 
Calcined 
Formulation + 
Calcinated 
Group Only Attapulgite 
Aflatoxin B.sub.1 
Attapulgite 
Zearalenone 
Attapulgite 
__________________________________________________________________________ 
Average Absolute 
0.2728 
0.1980 0.1166 0.2508 0.1984 0.2194 
Growth Rate (Kg/Day) 
__________________________________________________________________________ 
As discussed above, in addition to reduction in feed conversion and body 
weight, another effect of aflatoxicosis is the enlargement of animal 
livers. The necropsy of the liver revealed that pigs fed a food 
formulation with aflatoxin and calcined attapulgite had smaller livers 
than pigs fed a food formulation with aflatoxin alone. Furthermore, the 
presence of calcined attapulgite in the food formulation causes a decrease 
in the calcium level in pigs. Analysis of the serum confirms that calcined 
attapulgite is capable of keeping the calcium level at a normal level in 
pigs fed a food formulation with aflatoxin and calcined attapulgite. FIG. 
2 is a bar graph which indicates calcium concentrations for different 
treatment groups in the in-vivo studies. 
Pigs fed zearalenone manifested the normal symptoms associated with this 
toxin, such as increased uterine weight. On the other hand, pigs fed 
zearalenone and calcined attapulgite had lower uterine weights than pigs 
fed zearalenone only. The average values are summarized in Table 4. 
TABLE 4 
______________________________________ 
Food 
Food Formulation + 
Formulation + 
Food Calcinated 
Calcined Formulation + 
Attapulgite + 
Group Attapulgite Zearalenone 
Zearalenone 
______________________________________ 
Uterus, 0.05 0.18 0.11 
% Body Weight 
______________________________________ 
In addition, calcined attapulgite also alleviated the negative effects of 
zearalenone on serum calcium levels. 
EXAMPLE 3 
For purposes of comparison, an in-vivo study using calcium bentonite (i.e., 
hydrated sodium calciumalumino-silicate) was also conducted. The testing 
procedure was as follows: 
Four-week-old swine were purchased from the University of Missouri swine 
herd. They were weighed, tagged with plastic ear tags and placed in 
confinement with five pigs per pen. A feed was provided once a day in 
communal feeders, and water was available ad libitum. The food formulation 
was as follows: 1054 lbs. ground corn, 500 lbs 48% bean meal, 200 lbs 
dried whey, 60 lbs. animal fat, 50 lbs. pellet binder, 44 lbs. di-calcium 
phosphate sold under the tradename of "DiCal," 10 lbs. limestone, 2 lbs. 
L-lysine, 1 lb. dl-methionine, 1.5 lbs. copper sulfate, 5 lbs. vitamin 
premix such as a UMC vitamin premix, and 3 lbs. trace mineral premix such 
as a UMC trace mineral mix. 
Before a mycotoxin was added to a feed, a mycotoxin screen was done on this 
feed to confirm the absence of exogenous mycotoxins. Pigs were randomly 
assigned to three treatment groups: (1) food formulation and bentonite 
only; (2) food formulation and aflatoxin only; and (3) food formulation, 
aflatoxin, and calcium bentonite. Pigs were weighed on study days 0, 4, 8, 
11, 15 and 17. Blood samples were taken from each pig on days 0, 4, and 18 
and were used for serum chemistry analysis. On day 18, all pigs were 
sacrificed for necropsy. All pigs were examined for growth abnormalities. 
In this study, the amount of calcium bentonite used was about 1% by weight 
of the food formulation. The level of aflatoxin B.sub.1 used was 1.0 ug/g 
of the food formulation. Absolute growth rates for the three treatment 
groups are summarized in Table 5. 
TABLE 5 
______________________________________ 
Food 
Food Formulation + 
Formulation + 
Food Aflatoxin + 
Calcium Formulation + 
Calcium 
Group Bentonite Aflatoxin B.sub.1 
Bentonite 
______________________________________ 
Average Absolute 
0.24 0.12 0.16 
Growth Rate (Kg/day) 
______________________________________ 
The results reveal that pigs fed calcium bentonite and aflatoxin B.sub.1 
had a higher absolute weight gain than did those pigs fed a food 
formulation of aflatoxin B.sub.1 only. But the weight gain is not as 
pronounced as in the case of calcined attapulgite. This establishes that 
calcined attapulgite is superior to bentonite clays in alleviating the 
adverse effect of a mycotoxin in animals. Advantageously, a combination of 
calcined attapulgite and bentonite may result in more beneficial effects. 
In this embodiment, it should be understood that any type of bentonite, 
such as sodium bentonite, magnesium bentonite, lithium bentonite, 
potassium bentonite, etc., may be used instead of calcium bentonite. 
Furthermore, any amount of bentonite, e.g., 0.25% of a food formulation, 
may be used as long as the clay reduces the adverse effects of a 
mycotoxin. 
As demonstrated above, calcined attapulgite is effective in binding a group 
of mycotoxins such as aflatoxin, fumonosin, ochratoxin and zearalenone. 
When fed to an animal with a food formulation, calcined attapulgite has 
resulted in weight gain in the animal by reducing adverse effects of the 
mycotoxins present in the food formulation. Furthermore, calcined 
attapulgite has also alleviated the normal symptoms manifested by an 
animal that ingested mycotoxin-contaminated food. It is also demonstrated 
that the beneficial effects of calcined attapulgite can be enhanced by 
adding a bentonite clay to calcined attapulgite. 
While the invention has been disclosed with respect to a limited number of 
embodiments, those skilled in the art will appreciate numerous 
modifications and the variations therefrom. For example, although natural 
attapulgite is used in embodiments of the invention, synthetic materials 
with compositions and structures similar to natural attapulgite should 
function equivalently. It is also conceivable that the invention may be 
utilized in treating humans with similar health problems. Furthermore, the 
invention is effective not only against aflatoxin, fumonosin, ochratoxin 
and zearalenone, but also against any other mycotoxins such as ergotamine, 
vomitoxin, citrinin, T-2 toxin, sterigmatoxystin, deacstoxyscirpenol and 
the like. It is intended that the appended claims cover all such 
modifications and variations as fall within the true spirit and scope of 
the invention.