Corn Quality Vs. Quantity

The U.S. does an amazing job at growing corn, especially in the corn belt. Corn typically pollinates in July and corn quality is affected by weather conditions. When dry-hot weather is followed by wet and therefore, humid weather around pollination, mold growth has the potential to be greater. After a dry July, many areas in the corn belt experienced a wet and particularly humid August. Much of the rainfall, anywhere from 5.5-10.0” came between August 5th and 19th. Corn experiencing this weather pattern may be at a greater risk of mold contamination.

 

While there are many types of molds and mycotoxins found in corn, one of the most commonly occurring molds is Fusarium, which produces several mycotoxins. When corn is contaminated with high levels of mycotoxins there are deleterious effects to swine production. These effects range from poor growth and feed conversion to dramatic or complete feed refusal. Moreover, depending on the type of mycotoxin present in the corn, immune system suppression, liver, or lung challenges may arise. When consumed, mycotoxins activate the immune system, and the more mycotoxins present the larger the immune response. The immune system is nutritionally expensive to maintain in the active mode. This combined with low nutrient intake can exacerbate growth performance.  Even moderate levels of mycotoxins in corn can affect pigs, causing them to appear sickly and have a reduction in feed intake. Pigs may also experience labored breathing due to the mycotoxins causing pulmonary edema and creating extra stress on the lungs.

 

Fusarium contaminated corn is white or salmon colored and white streaking or a “starburst” appearance may be noticeable. Many hybrid corn varieties are resistant to mold but Fusarium is rather ubiquitous in corn fields so the potential for greater mold growth is a risk. To help reduce mold growth and therefore, the mycotoxins they produce, drying corn to 13% moisture is ideal before storage. Many mills will sample corn for mycotoxins but these tests tend to be performed quickly and may not be accurate.

 

When conditions may warrant a concern for mycotoxins, it’s better to be proactive and test the corn to gain a better understanding of the level of mycotoxins that may be present.  Hubbard Feeds has access to sophisticated diagnostic services through Alltech’s 37+ Program. The analytic methods in the 37+ program help identify more than 30 different mycotoxins quantitatively, and more than 50 others qualitatively in a short period of time. Patterns of contamination are investigated in feed mixes to better capture mycotoxin profiles and the associated risks for the pigs consuming the contaminated corn.  Continued research by Alltech has shown that a combination of mycotoxins, even at low levels, can have an additive negative effect on the pig.  The benefit of the 37+ Program is having the ability to analyze for a wide variety of mycotoxins to get a more complete picture of the corn and feed quality.