Mycotoxins are a significant issue in livestock and poultry nutrition and farming, causing substantial economic, health, and general public concerns worldwide. According to annual reports from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), about 20% of agricultural and livestock products produced globally are contaminated with mycotoxins.
To date, around 520 types of fungal toxins have been identified by researchers, but only a few of these are of importance, given the quantities found in feed sources used for livestock and poultry nutrition.
One of the most important of these mycotoxins is aflatoxins, with aflatoxin B1 being the most harmful type. Researchers in both developed and developing countries have concluded that aflatoxin B1 is one of the main factors leading to liver cancer in these regions. Accordingly, specific permissible levels of these fungal toxins have been set for both livestock and human consumption.
In general, mycotoxins can negatively affect livestock, poultry, aquatic animals, and even humans. These effects include reduced growth rate, decreased feed intake, increased feed conversion ratio, serious damage to intestinal villi, reduced digestion, kidney and liver damage, fatty liver, and more.
The Most Important Methods to Prevent the Adverse Effects of Mycotoxins in Livestock, Poultry, and Aquatic Animals:
One of the most critical methods to prevent the adverse effects of mycotoxins is using feed and water sources free from any mycotoxins. To achieve this, it is possible to obtain feed from reliable sources and use accredited laboratories to measure mycotoxin levels. However, due to contamination in agricultural systems (planting, growing, and harvesting) and storage, this method cannot be 100% reliable.
Another method to prevent the effects of mycotoxins (fungal toxins) is using strong disinfectants on surfaces in breeding environments. However, the most important and simplest method is using toxin binders in the feed. Toxin binders attach to the fungal toxins, neutralizing and causing their elimination from the body.
Toxin Binders:
Toxin binders are divided into several categories. The most important types include mineral binders, organic binders, microorganisms, microbial metabolites, and more.
Bentonite, due to its chemical structure, has a high capacity to absorb, bind, and neutralize mycotoxins. Research has shown that using calcium and sodium bentonite reduces aflatoxin residues in the milk of dairy cows.
Diatomaceous earth, used as a toxin binder in laboratory conditions, has shown the potential to bind with several mycotoxins (aflatoxin, trichothecene, zearalenone, and ochratoxin).
Activated charcoal is another general option, with a broad spectrum for absorbing mycotoxins. The use of activated charcoal in the diet of dairy cows reduces aflatoxin residues in milk and meat. Activated charcoal, due to its structure, can absorb multiple times the amount of mycotoxins. However, unprocessed activated charcoal may bind to vitamins and minerals, reducing their availability to livestock and poultry, but this disadvantage can be eliminated by processing the product.
Live yeast and yeast cell walls are some of the most important components used as toxin binders. Yeast cell walls consist of beta-glucan and mannan oligosaccharides. Mannan oligosaccharides can bind to some mycotoxins (aflatoxin B1, ochratoxin, zearalenone, and trichothecene).
Plant-based compounds, due to their antioxidant, antifungal, antimicrobial, and antiviral properties, are also considered a viable option as toxin binders in livestock and poultry feed.
Given that the nature and chemical structure of each mycotoxin differ, the use of multiple toxin binders in the diet can be much more effective.
Endotox Toxin Binder from Chitika Company:
Endotox toxin binder is an imported product from Chitika Company, a leader in removing feed toxins and enhancing productivity in livestock and poultry farming. The Endotox toxin binder consists of yeast cell walls (Saccharomyces cerevisiae), aluminosilicates (bentonite, diatomaceous earth, etc.), live yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae), activated carbon, organic acids, and more. Compared to similar domestic and international products, Endotox stands out in its effectiveness at binding various toxins. Due to its diverse components, Endotox covers almost all feed toxins.
Another key feature of the Endotox toxin binder is its resistance to the acidity of the digestive system. Its formulation includes ingredients that do not bind with minerals and vitamins. Due to its high efficacy and superior quality, the Endotox toxin binder is a very cost-effective product.
The Most Important Beneficial Effects of Endotox:
- Absorption and elimination of feed mycotoxins.
- Reduction of microbial load in milk.
- Improvement of fertility in breeder poultry flocks.
- Enhancement of immune system strength.
- Improved production in laying hen flocks.
- Reduction of infectious diseases.
Powerful Endotox Toxin Binder:
Endotox, with its organic and mineral compounds, is highly effective at absorbing fungal toxins such as aflatoxins, ochratoxins, zearalenones, fumonisins, deoxynivalenol, trichothecenes, and others. This product has yielded the best results in experimental tests and is comparable to the best international and domestic toxin binder brands. Endotox toxin binder is one of the top imported products from Chitika Company, with extensive scientific research backing it, and the findings of these studies have been published in various scientific articles.
Key Benefits of Using Endotox in Livestock:
- Reduction of microbial load in milk.
- Strengthening of the immune system in cows and calves.
- Reduction of miscarriages and increased fertility in dairy cows.
Key Benefits of Using Endotox in Poultry:
- Enhancement of immune system strength and reduction of mortality.
- Improved hatchability in breeder hens.
- Improved eggshell quality.
- Support for bone strength.
- Protection of the liver from mycotoxins.
- Reduction of stress.
Key Benefits of Using Endotox in Aquatic Animals:
- Strengthening of the immune system and resistance to diseases.
- Reduction of mortality due to mycotoxins.
- Improved growth and reduced feed conversion ratio.
- Protection of the liver from mycotoxins.
- Reduction of stress.
Usage Recommendations and Dosage:
- Calves: 8 grams per head per day.
- Heifers: 12-18 grams per head per day.
- Early lactation cows: 12-18 grams per head per day.
- Mid to late lactation cows: 18-35 grams per head per day.
- Fattening calves: 10-25 grams per head per day.
- Sheep and goats: 5-10 grams per head per day.
- Poultry: 0.5-3 grams per head per day.
- Aquatic animals: 1-3 kilograms per ton of feed.
- Foals: 15 grams per head per day.
- Horses: 30 grams per head per day.
Recommendation: During periods of stress, the dosage can be increased by 1.5 to 2 times based on the farm veterinarian’s recommendation.
Components of Endotox Multicomponent Toxin Binder:
Organic Section:
- Live yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae).
- Yeast cell wall (beta-glucan and mannan oligosaccharides).
- Organic acids (butyric acid, citric acid, and formic acid).
Mineral Section:
- Aluminosilicate adsorbents.
- Activated carbon.
- Diatomaceous earth.
