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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Athens, Georgia » U.S. National Poultry Research Center » Toxicology & Mycotoxin Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #427889
Research Project: Strategies to Reduce Mycotoxin Contamination in Animal Feed and its Effect in Poultry Production Systems

Location: Toxicology & Mycotoxin Research

Title: Advances in improving animal feed safety

Author
item Pokoo-Aikins, Anthony
item Opoku, Joseph

Submitted to: Taylor and Francis Group
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/14/2025
Publication Date: 8/25/2026
Citation: Pokoo-Aikins, A., Opoku, J. 2026. Advances in improving animal feed safety. Taylor and Francis Group. https://doi.org/10.19103/AS.2026.0172.17.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.19103/AS.2026.0172.17

Interpretive Summary: Mycotoxins are toxic secondary metabolites produced by mycotoxigenic fungi that infect cereals, oilseed nuts, and other animal feed components. Mycotoxins can compromise feed quality and safety, by significantly reducing farm animal health, production performance, yield in addition to economic losses to farmers. Approximately 85% of contamination occurs in pre-harvest, emphasizing the need for improved agronomic and crop management practices to reduce susceptibility to mycotoxigenic fungi infection and mycotoxin contamination. Post-harvest interventions such as physical, chemical, and biological techniques are used to decontaminate feed and make it safer for farm animals. These techniques can inactivate or remove mycotoxins from feed. Farmers have adopted commercial methods, such as milling, heat treatment, and UV radiation, to reduce mycotoxins. Nutritional interventions such as adsorbing agents are often used as a complementary strategy. A holistic approach of pre and post-harvest interventions, regular monitoring and testing, are essential to enhance feed safety.

Technical Abstract: N/A