Mycotoxin Matters

In the latest episode of Mycotoxin Matters we welcome Dr. Max Hawkins, Alltech Mycotoxin Management and Dr. Jan Dutton, CEO of Prescient Weather Ltd. Prescient Weather creates CropProphet and the World Climate Service. CropProphet is a weather-driven grain yield forecasting system designed to help global agriculture industry participants with an interest in grain quality and yield.

Unravel the impact of weather patterns on crop production during the 2023 growing season, and explore the potential risks of extreme weather events on mycotoxins levels. Gain valuable insights into weather's role in agriculture and its influence on the global food supply chain.  

Discover the significant impact of Penicillium mycotoxins on dairy cows in European forages. While North America faces risks from fusarium mycotoxins, Europe experiences higher risks from Penicillium mycotoxins, affecting cow health and performance.  Learn how managing forages and implementing mycotoxin control programs can restore cow health and optimize milk production in our latest podcast episode, featuring Dr. Max Hawkins and Aislínn Campbell. 

In this episode of Mycotoxin Matters, we are joined by Dr. Hazel Rooney and Dr. Radka Borutova to explore the link between pathogens and mycotoxins in pigs. Discover how these hidden threats interact, compromising pig health and industry productivity. Delve into the specific mycotoxins, such as aflatoxins and fumonisins, and the common pathogens that pose a risk. Gain practical insights and innovative solutions to safeguard pig well-being and ensure a thriving swine industry. 

Knowledge is power when it comes to effectively managing the dynamic challenge that mycotoxins pose to the productivity of livestock operations. Choosing the right mycotoxin test for your business is a crucial step in managing this challenge. In this episode of Mycotoxin Matters, we are joined by Dr. Alexandra Weaver to discuss the key differences between the available testing methods and what to consider when choosing a method for your business. 

In this month's episode we are joined by Dr. Alexandra Weaver and Dr. Alexandros Yiannikouris to discuss the category of emerging mycotoxins.

As our laboratory analysis for mycotoxins becomes more adaptable, we are observing a growing number of members in the emerging mycotoxins group. Consequently, individuals from this group are now more commonly detected than prominent mycotoxins like DON and fumonisin. Understanding the prevalence of these mycotoxins is crucial, especially since recent studies associate their existence with adverse performance in specific species. Discover more about the prevalence and research with emerging mycotoxins in this episode. 

In this episode of Mycotoxin Matters, we are joined by Gordon Marley, Global Silage Support Lead at Alltech who takes us back to basics on forage management. 

Forage quality has become an important topic globally, as beef and dairy producers have sought to increase animal productivity and make more use of total mixed rations or TMRS. Learn more about the potential losses and each stage of the forage production process, in order to maximize and optimize the volume and quality of forage produced on farm, in this episode. 

Over the past few months, Alltech field teams have been actively working with their customers and partners to assess what is the mycotoxin risk attached to new crop grains and forages coming out of harvest 2022. In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Radka Borutova and Dr. Max Hawkins to discuss the 2022 Harvest Analysis programme and what information we can glean from the results in relation to mycotoxin risk. 

A year that promised so much for Indian corn producers turned out much the opposite when crops began being harvested. Fertiliser shortages, adverse weather conditions and pest damage all played a role in driving down the yield and quality of both the earlier and later harvests (Rabi and Kharif). In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Lokesh Gupta and Raksha PR to discuss the findings from the 2022 harvest analysis program in India. 

In recent years, with a look to creating a healthier and more sustainable diet, plant-based alternatives such as dairy and meat substitutes have been developed in order to reduce the consumption of animal-based foods. As these plant-based alternatives continue to develop and expand within the market, the question arises: 'what do we know about the mycotoxin-related health impacts of shifting to a plant-based diet?' 

We are joined by Professor Chiara Dall'Asta to discuss a study that was recently published in the Journal of Exposure and Health, which assessed this topic. Professor Dall'Asta is currently an associate professor of food chemistry at the Department of Food Science at the University of Parma in Italy and is a well-known and highly respected researcher in the area of mycotoxins. In addition to her research activities, she is also an expert member of several working groups of the European Food Safety Authority.  

Since Alltech was founded in the 1980s, it has been a pioneer of mycotoxin research, with over 170 peer-reviewed studies published to date, detailing a robust, multi-faceted exploration of mycotoxins’ impact on animal systems and their remediation.

Learn more about the evolution of mycotoxin control, the research that supported it, and what future research could look like in our latest podcast episode with Dr. Yiannikouris, research group director at Alltech, and Dr. Kudupoje, research scientist at Alltech.