Mycotoxins are fungal toxins that contaminate grain-based pig feeds, causing reproductive failure, immune suppression, and chronic illness.
Mycotoxicosis in pigs is an underappreciated chronic welfare problem. Affected animals show vague signs — reduced appetite, poor growth, reproductive irregularities — that are often attributed to other causes, masking the underlying contamination. Pigs with mycotoxin-induced immune suppression become more susceptible to secondary infections, creating a cascade of welfare impacts. Welfare-protective management combines grain sourcing from reliable, well-stored supplies, routine mycotoxin testing of incoming feed batches, and prophylactic binder supplementation in high-risk periods. Producer education about mycotoxin risks is particularly important in regions where drought and humid harvest conditions increase mould pressure.