Back to News Mycotoxins are a hidden but serious threat to poultry production, often going unnoticed until performance and health begin to suffer.
These naturally occurring toxins, produced by fungi, contaminate feed ingredients and can have devastating effects on gut health, immunity, productivity, and overall flock welfare. In this article, we’ll explore where mycotoxins come from, how they affect poultry, the common warning signs, and most importantly, how to detect and manage the risk effectively.
What are mycotoxins, and how do they harm livestock?
Mycotoxins are toxic secondary metabolites produced by moulds such as Fusarium, Aspergillus, and Penicillium. These toxins are not always visible or easy to detect, but even in small quantities, they can compromise livestock health. In poultry, they can damage the gut, impair nutrient absorption, weaken the immune system, and significantly reduce performance.
Mycotoxins develop when the crop is still in the field, during and post-harvest. Factors such as drought, humidity, insect damage, plant stress, and crop variety can increase fungal infection and toxin production.
Contamination can continue to develop post-harvest if the grain is stored with high moisture levels, in warm weather, or under poor hygienic conditions.
Why are mycotoxins so challenging?
Mycotoxins are known as an invisible threat because they are difficult to detect and manage:
- Heat-resistant: They survive feed pelleting and extrusion.
- Chemically stable: They don’t degrade easily over time.
- Invisible and odourless: Sometimes there’s no smell or discolouration to alert you.
This means once they’re in the feed, they cannot be removed through processing; they must instead be managed through binding or neutralising agents.
What does good mycotoxin management look like?
Effective mycotoxin control requires a proactive, multi-step approach.
This includes:
- Regular testing of raw materials, silage, and finished feed.
- Use of a quality mycotoxin binder, such as mycotrap
- Good storage hygiene, including clean bins, and monitoring temperature and humidity.
- Monitoring bird health and behaviour for subtle early warning signs.
- Working closely with nutritionists and vets to tailor interventions.
Certain feed ingredients are particularly susceptible to mycotoxin contamination. These include maize and its by-products, wheat, barley, and soybean meal, especially if storage conditions are poor. Awareness of ingredient origin and handling is essential in assessing the risk of contamination.
What are the effects of mycotoxins on poultry health?
Mycotoxins can seriously impact poultry health and performance. They primarily target the digestive system, weakening gut integrity and increasing vulnerability to disease. Affected birds may show signs of poor growth, reduced productivity, and weakened immunity. Internally, organs like the liver and kidneys can be damaged, and reproductive performance may decline.
Digestive and Nutritional Impact
- Leaky gut syndrome
- Reduced nutrient absorption
- Increased gut health challenges, including necrotic enteritis, coccidiosis, Salmonella, and E. coli
Visible Clinical Signs
- Oral and dermal lesions
- Inflammation of the mouth and mucous membranes
- Gizzard lesions
- Bad feathering
- Diarrhoea and wet litter
- Feed refusal
Internal Damage
- Fatty liver
- Kidney damage
- Increase water intake
- Vasoconstriction leading to tissue necrosis
Performance Decline
- Uneven flock sizes
- Decreased feed efficiency
- Lower bodyweight gains
- Poor egg production and hatchability
- Delayed sexual maturity
Reproductive & Egg Quality Issues
- Ovarian cysts
- Embryonic loss
- Thin eggshells
- Blood/meat spots
- Creamy or misshapen yolks
What is ‘leaky gut’ in poultry?
Leaky gut occurs when the tight junctions of the intestinal lining become damaged, allowing toxins to pass directly into the bloodstream. This condition is often triggered or made worse by mycotoxins, stress, poor quality feed, or infections. Birds suffering from leaky gut typically show wet droppings, inconsistent growth, poor feed conversion rates, and greater susceptibility to disease. The condition compromises the overall health of the gut and creates long-term challenges to performance and welfare.
How do mycotoxins impact immunity?
Mycotoxins are known to suppress the immune system in poultry. They can impair antibody production, suppress the response to vaccinations, and weaken the activity of white blood cells. As a result, birds become more vulnerable to common infections and disease outbreaks. In many cases, these infections become more severe and longer-lasting due to the compromised immune function.
What increases susceptibility to mycotoxins?
Several factors influence a bird’s ability to cope with mycotoxins. Poor or imbalanced nutrition, stress from environmental conditions such as heat or overcrowding, and substandard ventilation can all lower resilience. The presence of pathogens or co-infections can also exacerbate the effects of mycotoxins. Young birds are particularly at risk due to their underdeveloped digestive and immune systems.
Signs of a mycotoxin problem in your flock:
- Poor uniformity
- Drop in feed intake or growth
- Sticky droppings and wet litter
- Patchy or rough feathers
- Egg production or quality changes
- Higher-than-normal mortality or culling
What is mycotrap?
Mycotrap is an independently tested, broad-spectrum mycotoxin binder designed to bind mycotxoins throughout the digestive tract. Developed with specific activated clay minerals and a glucose precursor, glycerine, mycotrap binds mycotoxins in the gut and safely escorts them through the bird’s digestive system. It’s non-digestible, free-flowing and palatable, making it easy to incorporate into feed without compromising intake or nutritional value.
What sets mycotrap apart is its proven performance, independently verified by the University of Ghent, a leading centre in mycotoxin research. Their two-phase method simulated the full pH range of the digestive tract, demonstrating mycotrap’s efficacy at binding a broad range of mycotoxins in both acidic and alkaline environments. This gives producers confidence that mycotrap works where it matters most – from the crop to the gut.
By improving gastrointestinal lining health, supporting liver function and enhancing immunity, mycotrap contributes to better daily feed intake, live weight gain, egg production and hatchability. It also plays a role in reducing embryonic mortality and improving conception rates. For farmers seeking a dependable, science-backed solution to mycotoxin management, mycotrap offers an excellent layer of protection that helps safeguard both bird health and performance.
Mycotoxin risk management checklist:
- Test feed and stored grains regularly
- Maintain dry, cool, hygienic storage conditions
- Check silos for condensation and spoilage
- Use an effective mycotoxin binder such as mycotrap
- Train staff to spot early signs
- Keep accurate performance records
- Work with your vet or nutritionist
Vigilant testing, good feed hygiene, and targeted nutritional support can go a long way in protecting your poultry from mycotoxins. With early detection and smart management, you can safeguard bird health, performance, and productivity all year round.
If you’d like to find out more about mycotrap and how it can manage mycotoxins in your flock, contact our sales team: sales@ufacuk.com
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