Mycotoxin Threat to China's "Golden Pigs"

A Chinese news site warns swine producers to be on the alert for mycotoxins in corn that could kill off their "golden pigs" during this time of soaring profits. 

Soozhu.com has a web page warning that corn released from the government's temporary reserve could be contaminated with a number of toxins due to excessive levels of mold in the corn. The warning explains that corn reserves ballooned from 10 million metric tons in 2012 to 58 mmt in 2013, 80 mmt in 2014, and are now up to 260 mmt. Although the reserve standards require mold content to be less than 2% and moisture less than 14%, the reserve nevertheless contains large volumes of corn with aflatoxin, zearalenone, deoxynivalenol, and ochratoxin. 

Soozhu.com warns that 70 million metric tons of corn produced in 2012 and 2013 could soon be released to the market. This corn is beyond the usual maximum 2-to-3 years to be held in storage in northern China. 

Swine consuming feed that contains mytoxins are subject to all kinds of ailments, including loss of appetite, fever, skin discoloration, lesions, diarrhea, vomiting, constipation, and other conditions making them susceptible to disease. Soozhu says that sow productivity has already been reduced by delay of estrus, miscarriages, stillbirths, and postpartum problems due to toxins in moldy corn. Soozhu.com warns that farmers can see various diseases such as bacterial infections, classical swine fever, "blue ear disease," and circovirus related to mycotoxins. Soozhu.com warns that farmers often try one medication after another and increase vaccinations without seeing results.

Soozhu.com estimates that sows can yield profits of 12,000 yuan annually at current prices for feeder pigs, but mycotoxins could take away your "golden pig" if you're not careful.