Antinutrients in feed and their effects on immunity, productivity and health of swine

Diet formulation during early life is critical to future growth outcomes because the mucosal immune system and digestive capacity of pigs does not mature until around 8 weeks of age. During this period, and especially around the time of weaning, piglets are highly susceptible to external stressors, including from antinutrients in the diet. Responding to these stressors requires nutrients and energy which are redirected away from growth, impacting on performance. Antinutrients of most concern in piglet diets include allergens in feed raw materials, mycotoxins, peptidoglycans and undigested nutrients.

The Importance of Proper Feedstuffs Sampling

Ensuring the quality and safety of animal feed is crucial for the agricultural sector, impacting both producers and consumers. Accurate feed sampling is fundamental to this process, providing critical data on the feed's composition, safety, and quality. Proper sampling minimizes errors, allowing analyses to reflect the true condition of the feed. This article explores key methodologies, challenges, and best practices for effective feed sampling.

What Mycotoxins Will 2024 Harvest Bring? (Part 2)

The September issue of The Digest included an overview of factors which influence the presence of mycotoxins in crops to help provide the rationale behind the 2024 corn crop mycotoxin predictions which will be revealed in this issue. A limited number of new crop samples have been submitted for analysis through our PROcheck mycotoxin testing service to date, so there is limited data to help substantiate the predictions at this time, but we hope that we’ll have more results by the time the November issue of The Digest is released in order to compare actual contamination data to this month’s predictions. Join us as we navigate this year’s growing conditions and predict what 2024 corn mycotoxin pressures will be!