Fusarium toxins in pig feeds: efficacy of mycotoxin adsorbents

In two experiments using a total of 220 weaner pigs the hypothesis was tested that apple pomace alleviates the negative effects of Fusarium toxins in pigs. The two experiments had the same two-factor design: Fusarium contaminated vs. uncontaminated wheat, and 8% apple pomace vs. no pomace in the diet. Both trials yielded similar results and were thus evaluated together. The intake of feed that was contaminated with deoxynivalenol and zearalenone reduced feed intake (P < 0.01) and weight gain (P = 0.05) and increased the uterus weight (P < 0.01) without affecting feed conversion ratio. Pomace intake had no effect on feed intake and uterus weight but improved weight gain (P = 0.03; interaction pomace x mycotoxins: P = 0.08). Apple pomace thus seems to counteract the negative effects of deoxynivalenol on growth, but is ineffective against the effect of zearalenone.