Corn Derived Deoxynivalenol’s Impact on Nursery Pig Performance

Abstract Deoxynivalenol (DON) is a common mycotoxin produced by Fusarium species that contaminates corn and other feed ingredients. Nursery pigs exposed to DON contaminated feed experience anorexia and vomiting, resulting in impaired performance. However, the DON concentration that impacts production losses has not been recently updated. Our objective was to evaluate the impact of 0 to 5 ppm DON on feed intake and growth performance of nursery pigs using a seven-point dose titration methodology. A total of 112, ten day post-weaned, pigs (PIC 337 x Camborough 1050; 9.1 ± 0.37 kg body weight) were assigned to 1 of 7 dietary treatments (n = 8 pens per treatment, 2 pigs per pen, 1 barrow and 1 gilt) using a complete randomized design. Diets were formulated with corn, soybean meal, and DON-contaminated corn in a single phase for 15-25 kg BW pigs and were equal in energy and SID amino acids. Manufactured mash diets were analyzed for DON using the LC-MS/MS technique by the ISU Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory and contained: 1) 0.2 ppm, 2) 0.9 ppm, 3) 1.7 ppm, 4) 2.4 ppm, 5) 3.1 ppm, 6) 4.0 ppm, and 7) 5.1 ppm DON. Pig and feeder weights were recorded on d 0 and 24. Pen ADG, ADFI, and Gain:Feed were calculated for the 24-d study period. Removals were the combination of mortality and morbidity. Data were analyzed in R using a linear mixed model with dietary treatment as a fixed effect with linear and quadratic contrasts to test trends across treatments. Over the test period, no removals were recorded, and no quadratic effects were observed for performance parameters. As DON increased, a 41.3% reduction in ADFI across treatments was observed from 0.842 to 0.494 kg (Linear P 0.001). Consequently, ADG decreased linearly by 37% from 0.587 to 0.371 kg as diet DON increased from 0.2 to 5.1 ppm, respectively (P 0.001). Pigs fed 5.1 ppm DON had a 22.7% reduction in final body weight compared to 0.2 ppm DON (Linear P 0.001). Gain to Feed ratio did not differ across DON treatments (Linear P = 0.214). In conclusion, increasing DON ppm in nursery diets from 0.2 to 5.1 ppm linearly decreased feed intake and pig growth performance, but not feed efficiency. No breakpoint could be found. DON concentrations in nursery pig diets remain critical to monitor and manage.