Deoxynivalenol (DON) is a mycotoxin which can
occur when grains, such as corn, wheat and barley,
are infected with a fungus called fusarium. For swine, its
presence can result in feed refusals and the reduction of
weight gains. An animal trial conducted last year by researchers with
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) and the University
of Guelph proved that a microbe normally found in a chicken’s
gut will dramatically reduce the effect of DON on pigs.
The microbe is capable of transforming DON to a much less
toxic product.This year’s work will involve isolating the enzyme within
the microbe that is responsible for the transforming effect and researchers are in the final stages of
doing just that. Ting Zhou, an AAFC research scientist involved in the
project explains that an enzyme is a more stable element than a living microbe. Production and delivery of it
to the animals is also easier.