Tratamento para a conservação da silagem e uso de adsorventes de micotoxinas são indicados

Além de trazer preocupação com os altos custos, a redução na produção de grãos no país causada pela geada e a seca também acendeu um alerta sobre a qualidade do milho e da soja produzidos. Isso porque as adversidades climáticas, que impactaram diretamente no ciclo de desenvolvimento das culturas, geraram maior exposição a pragas e doenças. Consequentemente, favoreceram o aparecimento de micotoxinas nestes cultivos, substâncias tóxicas produzidas por fungos que, quando ingeridas, podem reduzir o desempenho zootécnico dos animais.

“Esses estresses climáticos pelos quais as culturas passaram interferem e prolongam o ciclo da planta, o que dá mais oportunidade para fungos se desenvolverem. Os níveis de micotoxinas das amostras de rações que serão analisadas a partir de agora, têm a tendência de apresentar maiores valores. Aliás, já temos algumas análises com resultados que nos deixaram surpresos, que anteriormente não acreditávamos que podiam chegar em valores tão altos de contaminação”, alerta o doutor em nutrição de ruminantes Luiz Fernando Silva, gerente de pesquisas da Alltech.

Para superar esses desafios e buscar a máxima eficiência alimentar em bovinos de corte e leite, o especialista orienta o uso de adsorventes de micotoxinas à base da parede interna de levedura.

“Essas soluções vão trazer uma segurança maior para o pecuarista, pois têm alto poder de adsorção. Além disso, têm alta afinidade apenas com as micotoxinas, não interagindo com minerais, vitaminas e outros componentes da ração. Sendo assim, o objetivo é reduzir ao máximo a interferência dessas substâncias tóxicas no organismo dos animais”, destaca.

Outra recomendação são os cuidados na conservação da planta de milho para silagem, por meio de produtos à base de ácido propiônico. “Dependendo de como é feito o armazenamento da cultura no silo, as perdas podem chegar entre 10% a 20%. Com a aplicação de aditivos conservantes para a alimentação animal, essas perdas podem chegar próximo a zero”, afirma. No caso da silagem para bovinos, a aplicação é realizada na parte superior do silo no momento do fechamento, onde há maior perda do material ensilado devido à maior exposição ao ar. Com o uso do ácido propiônico, ocorre redução do pH, o que irá impedir o desenvolvimento de fungos e, consequentemente, reduzir a possibilidade de produção de micotoxinas nesse momento, complementa Silva.

Já na armazenagem dos grãos, procedimento comum em cooperativas, o zootecnista orienta que a solução natural seja utilizada no momento em que o milho está sendo despejado na estrutura do silo. Dessa forma, é possível buscar uma homogenização dessa aplicação, mantendo o ambiente mais ácido e conservando a qualidade dos grãos, que posteriormente serão utilizados para a produção da ração. 

Tecnologias disponíveis

Com o objetivo de contribuir para uma nutrição eficiente nesse período de desafios, o especialista indica o uso do Mycosorb A+, adsorvente de micotoxinas de última geração desenvolvido pela Alltech. O produto é composto por uma estrutura complexa de carboidratos insolúveis, que confere maior estabilidade de adsorção nos diferentes pHs ao longo do trato gastrointestinal. Para complementar, a utilização do Mold-Zap, aditivos conservantes à base de ácido propiônico para alimentação animal, também é recomendado.

A native of Slovakia, Dr. Radka Borutova received a doctoral degree in veterinary medicine from the University of Veterinary Medicine in Kosice. Her doctoral thesis was titled "Effects of fusarium mycotoxins on antioxidant and immune status in poultry," and she has since authored 14 peer-reviewed studies about mycotoxins.

Dr. Borutova has more than 12 years of experience in the global animal nutrition industry, where she has served in prominent roles at several leading institutions. Over the course of her career, Dr. Borutova has worked with stakeholders throughout the feed supply chain to better understand the impact of mycotoxins in all primary species and to help establish the most effective strategies for mitigating mycotoxin risks.

Dr. Borutova currently serves as the European technical support manager for the Mycotoxin Management program at Alltech. She has previously served as the chief state counsellor in the Ministry of Agriculture for the Slovak Republic and as a post-graduate student, teacher and member of the Laboratory of Selenium Metabolism at the Institute of Animal Physiology at the Slovak Academy of Sciences.

What’s important for senior dogs and cats?

• Weight management
• Joint health
• Eye health
• Brain health
• Overall wellness and comfort

Common challenges

• Lack of activity, leading to overweight or obese pets
• Common diseases, such as cataracts, diabetes and arthritis
• Metabolic changes
• Cognitive decline

Tips for optimizing the golden years of senior pets

• Be stringent about sticking to your pet’s preventative care routine. Your senior dog or cat should be seen regularly by your veterinarian and monitored for any changes.
• Encourage as much exercise as possible. Maintaining lean muscle mass is critical for aging pets, so while you don’t want to overdo, it is important to establish an exercise routine and do your best to stick with it.
• Feed pre- and probiotics. As pets age, their digestive ability decreases. These gut-supportive nutrients can help maximize digestive function and immunity.
• Choose a nutrition program with higher protein levels but reduced calories and that is specifically formulated for senior pets. Research has shown that higher protein-to-calorie ratios may be beneficial for older dogs and cats.  

What’s important for adult dogs and cats?

• Complete preventative care
• Weight management
• Proper digestive health

Common challenges

• Maintaining a healthy body condition
• Overall nutritional concerns about providing adequate nutrients to support brain, eye, heart and joint health
• Skin and coat conditions, including food allergies, dry or itchy skin, hot spots, etc.
• Supporting a balanced microbiome

Tips for maximizing health and performance

• Choose a dog or cat food that matches the activity level of your pet. Animals that are more physically active will likely require food with higher levels of protein and fat.
• Do not overfeed your pet! Read the label on the back of the dog or cat food bag and feed it according to the manufacturer recommendations. Doing this will ensure that your pet receives the proper levels of micronutrients without consuming excessive calories. Remember, especially at the maintenance stage, the stomachs of adult dogs and cats are relatively small and do not require as much food as you may think.
• Choose dog or cat foods made with 100% organic trace minerals and selenium, which work to promote eye, joint, brain and heart health. The health processes that minerals are involved in can also aid in keeping your pet’s skin and coat in good condition.
• Provide high-quality pre- and probiotics made for dogs and cats to promote a healthy microbiome throughout your pet’s lifetime.

What’s important for active dogs and cats?

• Proper energy balance
• Supporting joint and heart health
• Stress management
• Gut health and immunity

Common challenges

• Meeting protein requirements without excessive calorie consumption
• Preventing joint health issues, such as hip dysplasia and arthritis
• Ensuring that nutrient requirements are met in order to protect the heart
• Minimizing stress so as to protect the delicate gut microbiome

Tips for maximizing health and performance

• Working and active dogs often require higher levels of protein, and it is important to remember that while dogs’ calorie needs decrease with age, their protein requirements tend to increase. Work with your veterinarian to decide which food will best meet your dog’s specific needs.
• Provide antioxidants in the form of high-quality nutrients to help protect your dog’s joints and heart health and to maximize recovery.
• Ensure that a constant supply of fresh, clean water is always available.
• Aim to feed your active or working dog at least an hour after activity to minimize digestive upset and the potential for diarrhea.

What’s important for puppies and kittens?

• Immune system protection and development
• Musculoskeletal support
• Meeting their protein needs
• Brain development, which includes proper socialization and exposure to stimuli

Common challenges

• Parasite management
• Digestive upset
• Compromised immunity
• Offering the appropriate nutrition
• Behavioral and house training

Tips for successful growth and development

• Follow your veterinarian’s recommendations. This is a critical time to be hyperaware of your veterinarian’s recommendations about vaccination schedules, deworming (if necessary) and nutrition. Your growing pet’s needs during this time are heightened, so it’s important to follow the recommended schedules in order to set up your dog or cat for lifelong success.   
• Socialize carefully. Weeks 4 through 12 of an animal’s life are important for proper socialization but also coincide with the period of time known as the “immunity gap,” when animals often stop drinking their mother’s milk but have not yet developed a mature immune system. This puts them at a heightened risk for contracting potentially serious illnesses through environmental exposure, such as parvovirus. It is best to consult with your veterinarian on when it will be safe for your pet to meet other pets, go for walks and/or attend obedience classes.
• Provide adequate protein and nutrients to support growth. The protein needs of baby animals are especially high during the first six months of their lives. It is very important to offer a high-quality puppy or kitten food and to remember that large-breed puppies have especially unique dietary needs. Pro- and prebiotics are also crucial for immune system development.

What are mycotoxins?

Mycotoxins are substances that are produced by molds or fungi. Some common mycotoxins that may appear in pet food include aflatoxin, fumonisin, vomitoxin, ochratoxin and zearalenone. Unfortunately, mycotoxins are very stable and often survive heat and other processing steps in pet food production.

While there are stringent policies in place at both the governmental and manufacturing levels regarding mycotoxins, they can be very tricky to monitor, and sometimes, despite these regulations, the presence of mycotoxins in food is inevitable.

How can I protect my pet from mycotoxins?

The ingredients at the highest risk for containing mycotoxins in pet food are grains, such as corn and wheat, but mycotoxins can be found in grain-free ingredients as well, so every pet food carries some level of risk.

While there are pros and cons to both grain-based and grain-free pet food diets, the best advice we can offer is to thoroughly research the pet food you choose for your dogs and cats. If the food appears or smells suspicious, do not feed it to your pets, and alert the manufacturer immediately.  

Pets experiencing mycotoxin poisoning may present with:

• Vomiting and loss of appetite
• Weight loss
• Lethargy
• Diarrhea
• A weakened immune system
• Respiratory illnesses
• Tremors
• Heart palpitations
• Jaundice

Mitigating the mycotoxin risk in pet food

Protecting your pets from mycotoxins is accomplished most effectively by following a holistic management plan. Using mycotoxin-binding feed additives can be beneficial for any pet food diet, and services such as Alltech’s 37+ and RAPIREAD testing can help to ensure that your pets’ diet is safe from contamination.