January 2026 - Journal_Final - Flipbook - Page 11
Nutrition
What have we seen?
• Elevated levels of DON in corn in Illinois,
Indiana, Minnesota, Wisconsin. (Figure1)
• Moderate levels of FUM in corn in Kansas
and Colorado, low levels detected in
Missouri and Oklahoma. (Figure 2)
• Zearalenone in corn is at elevated levels
in Iowa, Minnesota and Missouri.(Figure
3)
• Keep in mind dried distillers’ grains
typically concentrate mycotoxin level by
3 times, and we have seen this to hold
true with analyzed samples.
What does this mean for our pigs?
Sometimes you can’t avoid using grain with
mycotoxins—but you can take steps to lower
the risk:
Figure 1- Corn Vomitoxin (DON) Risk Level outlined in the New Crop 2025
Mycotoxin Analysis Report by Pipestone Nutrition.
• Dilution is the Solution!
Blend “hot spot” corn with cleaner corn
or add another clean grain/byproduct.
This helps bring mycotoxin levels below
the threshold that causes problems in
pigs.
• Feed Clean Grain to Sensitive Groups
Nursery pigs and sows are most
vulnerable, so give them the cleanest
feed. Finishing pigs can handle slightly
higher levels, but still bene昀椀t from
cleaner diets.
• Add a Mycotoxin Binder
Binders help bind to mycotoxins to
prevent absorption in the gut. Typically,
these are targeted towards nursery pigs
and sows and are hard to justify the cost
in a feeder to 昀椀nish pig. Not all binders
work on every toxin, so check with your
nutritionist to choose the right product
for your situation.
Figure 2- Corn Fumonisin (FUM) Risk Level outlined in the New Crop 2025
Mycotoxin Analysis Report by Pipestone Nutrition.
Continue to monitor
Mycotoxins don’t stop at harvest, they can
keep growing on corn in storage. Plus,
farmers and feed mills pull from different
bins throughout the year, which means risk
can change over time. Keep collecting and
testing composite samples to make sure
levels haven’t climbed higher. If they have,
you may need to adjust diets or take action.
When in doubt, the pig will tell you if they don’tFigure 3- Corn Zearalenone Risk Level outlined in the New Crop 2025
Mycotoxin Analysis Report by Pipestone Nutrition.
like the feed!
WINTER 2026 | 11
