Mycotoxin poisoning has caused significant damage to the pig industry, but it is also insidious and unpredictable. When moldy corn is detected, it should never be used or must be treated before feeding. Taking chances is not an option. Below is a real case of mycotoxin poisoning in pigs.
In recent days, over 170 pigs weighing around 150 kilograms began showing symptoms. They had headaches, their feces turned yellow, and they lost appetite. No visible mold was found, yet some pigs developed purple spots on their skin. The spots became dense and ulcerated, accompanied by coughing, weight loss, lameness, red eyes, and some lying on the ground. Despite administering antibiotics as part of routine health care, such severe respiratory issues were unusual. Based on the symptoms, we treated them with Chinese herbal medicine like Astragalus polysaccharides, Folium, and Radix for heat-clearing and detoxification. After a few days, the purple spots gradually faded, the feces turned dark gray, and the pigs started eating again. Coughing symptoms also improved significantly.
Previously, I had never seen such alarming signs. Then, when I asked others about it, most said that it might be circovirus. I wondered why so many pigs were affected without any clear cause. A seasoned farmer suggested, “You probably fed them moldy corn.†That simple comment made everything clear. Yes, I had been feeding moldy corn. My silo wasn’t properly sealed. This year, due to water storage needs, a large pond was dug near the village, just 10 meters away from my storage area. Water slowly seeped into the pond, causing the ground to flood. Corn was stored there for a long time, and I had never checked underneath. As a result, the bottom of the pile and the wall had developed large mold patches. I removed about 50-60 jin (about 150 pounds) of corn and fed it to the pigs. At the time, I felt guilty, worried about mycotoxin poisoning, but I thought sun-drying would eliminate the risk. I was too confident, thinking it was safe to feed. After about 10 days, the pigs started showing the symptoms described above, which progressively worsened. I then took action.
Although things improved, some sows showed swollen vulvas, enlarged breasts, and even appeared pregnant. One sow looked like she had "copper coin" sized lumps—hard to describe, but definitely abnormal.
Now, I fully understand the dangers of mold contamination. I hope all farmers are cautious when storing feed. Always check warehouses for mold, and avoid feeding it to large pigs. It’s a big mistake. Since then, some of my pigs have become weak and stiff, which makes me realize how costly this mistake was.
Interestingly, I treated the pigs using the approach for circovirus, and it actually worked. Looking back, it was a foolish and naive decision at the time, but it saved the day.
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