Anti-mycotoxin additive mixture in cattle feed contaminated with multiple mycotoxins: impacts on performance and health

This study investigated the impact of including an anti-mycotoxin additive on the performance and health parameters of Holstein cattle in the rearing phase, fed diets contaminated with multiple mycotoxins. A diet contaminated with aflatoxins (200 ppb), fumonisins (15 ppm), zearalenone (500 ppb), deoxynivalenol (1.5 ppm), ochratoxin A (100 ppb), and T-2 toxin (300 ppb) was fed to growing cattle for 87 days. The experiment involved 24 cattle divided into three groups: negative control (CONT), positive control (MYCO: with mycotoxin blend), and test group (MYCO+ADDI: with mycotoxin blend + anti-mycotoxin additive). The additive’s formulation contained yeast cell wall, bentonite, modified montmorillonite, activated charcoal, milk thistle extract (Silybum marianum), and a selenium-amino acid complex. At strategic points, production performance data (weight gain, daily intake, and feed efficiency) and animal health biomarkers (hematology, clinical biochemistry, and oxidative stress markers) were assessed. Cattle in the MYCO group had lower average daily gain and feed efficiency, but the additive (MYCO+ADDI) minimized this negative impact of mycotoxins. Lower total leukocyte and lymphocyte counts were observed in cattle in both groups that consumed the mycotoxin-contaminated diet. Creatine kinase activity was higher in animals the MYCO and MYCO+ADDI groups compared to CONT. Alanine aminotransferase and gamma-glutamyl transferase activity was higher in the blood of cattle in the MYCO group compared to other groups. Aspartate aminotransferase activity was higher in MYCO group compared to CONT; but no difference between MYCO+ADDI. Levels of reactive oxygen species, lipid peroxidation, and myeloperoxidase activity were higher in the serum of cattle in the MYCO group compared to the other groups. Therefore, it can be concluded that the strategic use of an anti-mycotoxin additive minimized the damage caused by exposure to six concomitant mycotoxins, reducing liver damage and oxidative reactions.