Deoxynivalenol (DON), also known as vomitoxin, is a Type B trichothecene mycotoxin produced by Fusarium fungi.
It’s notorious for blocking protein synthesis, triggering oxidative stress, and causing cytotoxicity, leading to cell damage and death in livestock. DON can cause vomiting, diarrhea, reduced appetite and stunted growth. It also weakens the immune system, making animals more vulnerable to infections.
In swine, DON can reduce feed intake, impair growth and weaken reproductive performance. In poultry, it affects egg quality, gut health, and hatchability. In ruminants, it lowers milk yield, disrupts fertility, and compromises immune function.
Fusaric acid (FA), in turn, can detrimentally elevate serotonin levels in the brain, lower blood pressure, and interfere with bone formation.
DON, FA, and other mycotoxins rarely occur in isolation. Instead, they create a synergistic effect that amplifies their impact. FA, for instance, is less toxic on its own, but it is alarmingly widespread and becomes far more dangerous when combined with DON. Such combinations can cause even more severe health issues across species, from impaired reproduction in sows to reduced milk yield in dairy cows and poor egg quality in layers.
Mycotoxins – silent saboteurs
In livestock production, mycotoxins are silent saboteurs. They creep into feed, disrupt gut health, weaken immunity, and quietly erode performance. For years, producers have battled these invisible threats with varying success. But now, Alltech is changing the game with Mycosorb® A+ Evo and Mycosorb® Evo. These next-generation patent-pending solutions deliver greater efficacy, broader-spectrum coverage and proven protection against the real-world challenges of modern livestock production.
This newly launched Mycosorb Evo range is the result of years of innovation, research, and listening to producers globally. It’s built on the legacy of the original Mycosorb, but with a powerful twist: a yeast cell wall extract combined with a novel bacterial ingredient that enhances its ability to tackle even the toughest toxins – especially DON and FA, which are among the most concerning mycotoxins in global livestock feed today.
The evidence is clear. Alltech® 37+ testing, which uses advanced UPLC-MS/MS technology, has analyzed over 75,000 samples in the past decade, and the resulting global data has shown increasing levels of DON in wheat, barley, corn, and forages. FA is even more pervasive – it’s present in over 82% of maize samples and 81% of forage samples. These findings highlight the urgent need for a solution that can handle multiple toxins at once.
Protection based on mycotoxin risk
Mycosorb A+ Evo and Mycosorb Evo are designed to address this type of combined threat, offering a comprehensive approach that simultaneously enhances precision against individual toxins while also delivering broad-spectrum protection across feed challenges. Whether it’s sows, piglets, dairy cows or layers, they offer robust solutions tailored to a specific risk level:
- Mycosorb A+ Evo for high-risk situations or more sensitive animals
- Mycosorb Evo for moderate-risk environments
This tiered approach means producers can choose the right level of protection based on the mycotoxin risk in feeds and the animal groups being fed, without over- or under-treating. It’s a flexible, targeted strategy that reflects the complexity of modern farming.
Powerful mycotoxin management solutions
These new technologies are built on the proven Mycosorb range. The efficacy of these Mycosorb products are supported by a robust portfolio of research:
- Three meta-analyses on layers, broilers and growing pigs
- 141 in vivo trials, 22 in vitro/ex vivo studies, and 35 review articles
- Advanced in silico modeling and stereochemical analysis to understand how the product interacts with toxins at the molecular level
In controlled biochemical in vitro studies, the Mycosorb Evo range of technologies demonstrated a twofold increase in binding capacity for DON and a threefold improvement in adsorption of FA compared to previous formulations. Beyond these standout results, the Mycosorb Evo range consistently showed strong adsorption across a wide spectrum of regulated and emerging mycotoxins, including aflatoxins, fumonisins, zearalenone, ochratoxins, and ergot alkaloids.
Further biological testing using pig intestinal cell culture models confirmed that the Mycosorb Evo range significantly improved cell viability under toxin challenges. In the presence of DON alone, viability improved by an average of 33%; when the threat involved DON and FA combined, that number grew to 47%. These findings demonstrate the ability of these Alltech solutions to protect the intestinal lining – the animal’s first point of contact with toxins.
In vivo poultry trials provided additional validation. With the addition of Mycosorb Evo, birds consuming feed that was naturally contaminated with Fusarium mycotoxins such as DON, FA, and zearalenone demonstrated improved feed conversion ratios, particularly during mid-production. Blood biomarker analysis confirmed reductions in systemic toxin levels, alongside signs of lower immune disruption and reduced intestinal inflammation.
Mycosorb A+ Evo, which is formulated with a novel bacterial ingredient in addition to the yeast cell wall extract and algal component was also shown to have enhanced interactions with key Penicillium toxins, such as penicillic acid, which is particularly relevant in ruminant production.
Overall, these results show that Mycosorb Evo technology does more than bind toxins in vitro, it safeguards gut health, reduces systemic exposure, and protects animal performance where it matters most.
Turning data into action against mycotoxins
What makes Alltech’s Mycotoxin Management Program even more powerful is the data behind it. Alltech’s unique Risk Equivalent Quantity (REQ) model translates complex contamination data into actionable insights. When REQ insights are combined with Alltech® RAPIREAD™ technology and the Alltech Mycotoxin Management Portal, producers have access to real-time contamination tracking, species-specific risk assessments, and customized recommendations.
And producers aren’t left to figure it out alone. Alltech’s Mycotoxin Management Program provides full support, from testing and analysis to expert guidance and digital tools. It’s a holistic approach that empowers producers to make informed decisions and stay ahead of evolving threats.
So, whether you’re dealing with milk production challenges in dairy cows, poor egg quality in layers, or reduced growth in pigs, the Mycosorb Evo range offers a smarter, more effective way to fight back – protecting performance, improving resilience, and delivering real results.
Find out more on the Mycosorb Evo range here.
Author: Radka Borutova, DVM, Ph.D., Global Technical Support, Alltech
*Product availability and details may vary by country. Contact your local Alltech representative for specific information.
