Several mycotoxins are reported to be present in grains and in stored feedstuffs, but only five have been shown to cause much difficulty with swine in the United States. The most serious mycotoxin threat to swine is from aflatoxin . This mycotoxin is not generally present in the feed grains grown in the tri-state area, but is common in feeds from the South. Aspergillus flavus and is a major problem in peanuts and their by- product feeds.
Aflatoxin can, however, occur in corn and other grains when growing conditions are hot and dry.
Aflatoxin is a toxic product, causing liver damage, reduced growth, and feed conversion at levels above 100 ppb. It can be carcinogenic, and FDA regulates the maximum dietary level at 20 ppb. Because of the very strong feed refusal response which DON elicits, pigs are seldom seen vomiting. The pig seems to be more sensitive to the presence of this mycotoxin in feed than other livestock species. Starvation is the condition usually observed.