Mycotoxins – An omnipresent invisible risk
Mycotoxins are toxic metabolites produced by aerobic moulds, especially from the Fusarium and Aspergillus genus. Mycotoxins are present in grains from field to storage, plant by-products and preserved forages. Hundreds of mycotoxins have already been identified. The ones causing most concern due to their toxicity and level of occurrence are aflatoxins, fumonisins, zearalenone, T2 and deoxynivalenol.

The result of a contamination with mycotoxins ranges from reduction of feed intake, immunosuppression and decreased fertility to liver damage and death. Residues of some mycotoxins pose a threat to humans as they can also be found in milk, eggs and meat.

Bacterial toxins – The underestimated danger
Mycotoxins can disrupt the barrier function in the gastrointestinal tract, allowing the growth of potentially pathogenic bacteria. There are basically two types of bioactive substances of bacterial origin that cause diseases of the gastrointestinal tract as well as immune and infectious reactions in the organism: endotoxins and exotoxins. Endotoxins (also known as lipopolysaccharides or LPS) are components of the outer membrane of the cell walls of gram-negative bacteria. These are released during the growth or death of the bacteria. Exotoxins are proteins produced by certain species of bacteria as part of their growth and metabolism.

Toxin Risk Management – Animal health in your hands
Mycotoxins are not homogenously distributed in crops. Therefore, false negative analysis results and subsequently undetected contaminations are possible – despite the accuracy of methods! Hence animals must be protected from the consequences of the possible synergistic effects of mycotoxins and from the threat of bacterial toxins in the gastrointestinal tract.

There are different ways to stabilize challenged digestion and to support the balance of the microbiome in the gastrointestinal tract. Combinations of natural clay minerals, yeast cell walls and secondary plant compounds in the Mastersorb® product line are our innovative solution.