Mycotoxins are fungal waste products that contaminate feed grain and protein ingredients and they pose serious threats to animals and humans. Unfortunately, much of the feed that animals consume is contaminated with these substances. Scientists have identified more than 400 different toxins that are derived from fungi.
The term "mycotoxin" is derived from "myco", meaning mold or fungus, and "toxin" meaning poison. Mold, principally Aspergillus, Fusarium and Penicillum species, growing on raw food products (grain, hay, etc) produce the major mycotoxins. The four main dangerous mycotoxins are:
- Aflatoxin family of toxins
- Fusarium Tricinctum (T-2)
- Zearalenone
- Vomitoxin (Don)
These mycotoxins can cause liver damage, gizzard erosion, cancer, anemia, vomiting, diarrhea, intestinal hemorrhage -- or can interfere with conception, ovulation, fetal development and abortion. Other problems include reduced immune response, lowered feed consumption, poor feed efficiency and worsened milk and egg production.
AZOMITE®'s ability to improve the health of an animal is due to the presence of over 67 trace elements which provide animals with increased immune responses and improved detoxification capability, with or without the existence of mycotoxins in the feed.
Scientific research has shown that AZOMITE® outperforms typical toxin binders like zeolites and bentonites, which have the ability to bind toxins, but do not appear to supply animals with trace elements.
Many feed producers have phased out toxin binders entirely, while others still use zeolites and bentonites. Unfortunately, many of these products only work against the most prevalent mycotoxin, Aflatoxin B-1, and often do not work in vivo.
There is no doubt that many substances bind mycotoxins. For example, the feed itself has this ability. However, AZOMITE® improves the animal's immune system and detoxification systems by supplying beneficial and essential trace elements and therefore assists the animal in fighting the harmful effects of mycotoxins. This results in improved feed efficiency, greater lean gain and healthier animals.
