Fungi are ubiquitous and formation of mycotoxins can occur in all agricultural commodities
under appropriate field or storage conditions throughout the animal feed supply chain.
In this increasingly complex area, the salient features of a fungal growth and mycotoxin
production are outlined with strategies to mitigate their accumulation. Overall, there are a
number of approaches that can be taken to minimise mycotoxin contamination in animal
feeds and these involve prevention of fungal growth and therefore mycotoxin formation,
and strategies to reduce or eliminate mycotoxins from contaminated commodities, especially
feed additives. The major problem associated with mycotoxin contaminated animal
feed is not acute disease episodes but low level toxin ingestion which may cause an array
of metabolic disturbances resulting in poor animal productivity. In studies with pigs and
poultry it has been shown that low level mycotoxin intake can result in reduced feed intake,
poor growth rate, lower egg production, changes in carcass quality, reduced fertility and
hatchability of eggs and immunosuppression. It is concluded that mycotoxins constitute a
significant problem for the animal feed industry and an ongoing risk to feed supply security.