Cargill Animal Nutrition & Health Presents New Insights on Mycotoxins and Poultry Gut Health

Cargill Animal Nutrition & Health will present new research at the World Mycotoxin Forum (WMF), April 7-9, 2025, providing key insights into global mycotoxin contamination trends and their impact on poultry gut health. Conducted by Cargill Micronutrition & Health Solutions – the business of Cargill Animal Nutrition & Health dedicated to delivering science-based micronutrition products, services, and digital solutions – these studies reinforce Cargill’s commitment to data-driven risk management and innovative solutions that enhance livestock performance. 

Global mycotoxin contamination trends: what 400,000+ analyses reveal  
The research utilizes the world’s largest mycotoxin database, built on over 400,000 analyses across more than 150 feed plants, farms, and storage locations worldwide. This data enables real-time tracking of contamination risks and helps feed producers make informed sourcing and quality control decisions.

An example of distinct regional variations, this year’s European research highlights differences in mycotoxin risk across the region:  

• Southern Europe saw a late-year surge in deoxynivalenol (DON), fumonisin (FUM), and zearalenone (ZEN).  
• Northern and Eastern Europe experienced milder fluctuations, with DON levels significantly lower in 2024 than in 2023.  
• Co-occurrence remains a major challenge, with 78% of samples containing three or more mycotoxins.  

While other companies track mycotoxin trends, this database is the largest, allowing for more precise regional insights. Mycotoxin levels vary significantly by geography and time, making a broad dataset essential for accurate risk assessment and proactive management. 

“Healthy animals perform better, and feed safety is a crucial part of optimizing livestock productivity,” said Clément Soulet, Category lead – Cargill Micronutrition & Health Solutions. “This database provides producers with real-time, location-specific risk insights, helping them make proactive decisions to protect their animals and their bottom line.”  

Poultry gut health at risk: how DON disrupts microbiota maturation  
A second study investigates the impact of deoxynivalenol (DON) on broiler gut microbiota and finds that DON-contaminated feed disrupts the natural development of beneficial bacteria, while promoting the persistence of harmful pathogens such as Campylobacter and Salmonella. 

The research also tested an innovative anti-mycotoxin agent (AMA), which counteracted DON’s negative effects, supporting healthy microbiota maturation.  

“Not all mycotoxin binders are created equal,” said Thomas Pecqueur, Technology Lead Additives – Cargill Micronutrition & Health Solutions. “ Notox AMA stands out with its superior performance, leveraging highly advanced mycotoxin absorption technologies to provide unparalleled protection.”  
 
Driving innovation in mycotoxin management and feed safety  
Cargill Animal Nutrition & Health continues to invest in next-generation risk assessment tools, such as the Mycotoxin Impact Calculator (MIC), to help customers quantify the economic and performance risks associated with mycotoxin exposure.  

Forage mycotoxin analysis was introduced last year and remains a key focus, reinforcing that mycotoxin management is critical not just for poultry and pigs, but also for ruminants. Cargill’s expertise supports farms across all livestock sectors.
 
Additionally, NOTOX, a new brand within the refreshed portfolio of Cargill Micronutrition & Health Solutions, will be introduced, focusing on advanced mycotoxin risk management. Notox AMA, in particular, is formulated with cutting-edge technology to offer superior binding efficiency and a robust defence against mycotoxin exposure. This launch underscores Cargill’s commitment to science-driven, data-backed solutions that empower producers to proactively mitigate mycotoxin threats and enhance animal health and performance. 

Cargill’s experts will present these findings and the new NOTOX brand at the World Mycotoxin Forum (April 7-9, 2025). For more information, visit the Cargill booth in the main hall. 
 

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