Mycotoxin poisoning in laying hens: correct solutions and prevention methods

1. Manifestations and symptoms of mycotoxin poisoning in laying hens

（1） Clinical manifestations: When laying hens are poisoned by mycotoxins, they usually show symptoms such as loss of appetite, listlessness, fluffy feathers, and weight loss. Some chickens may also have diarrhea, weight loss, and "double eyelid" eyes.

（2）Reduced egg production rate: Mycotoxin poisoning will seriously affect the egg-laying performance of laying hens, leading to a decrease in egg production rate. At the same time, the weight of eggs and the quality of eggshells will also be affected, resulting in abnormal phenomena such as "freckled" eggs and "blood-spotted" eggs.

（3）Changes in physiological indicators: Mycotoxin poisoning can also cause changes in physiological indicators in laying hens, such as liver enlargement, abnormal blood biochemical indicators, etc. These changes will further affect the health status and production performance of laying hens.

Case sharing:

In a farm with a scale of 300,000 in China, one batch of 50,000 chickens at 190 days old became ill due to eating moldy corn in early May. The mortality rate increased for about a week, and the egg production decreased by 4%. Antibiotics and bile acid were used in the chickens. After a week, the mortality rate decreased. On May 27, the normal mortality rate was 5-7 per day. The feces of the chickens was observed to have improved significantly. On the same day, it was recommended to increase the amount of bile acid to 2 bottles per ton for 10 days, and the egg production would improve. After a follow-up visit on June 10, the egg production rate increased by 3 points.

2. Recommendations for mycotoxin prevention and control in laying hen farms

2.1 Strengthen feed management

(1) Choose high-quality feed: When purchasing feed, choose feed produced by reliable and reputable feed manufacturers to ensure feed quality.

(2) Store feed properly: Feed should be stored in a dry, ventilated, and light-proof place to prevent moisture and mold. At the same time, the feed warehouse and feed trough should be cleaned regularly to avoid feed residue and contamination.

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Testing equipment:

(3)Internal and external detoxification, use of mold removal agent with bile acid

2.2 Clean the chicken house regularly

The chicken house is an important place for laying hens to live and an important place for mold to grow. Therefore, the chicken house should be cleaned regularly to keep it dry, clean and ventilated. During the cleaning process, pay attention to using disinfectants that are effective against mold for disinfection.

2.3 Control temperature and humidity

The growth environment of laying hens needs to maintain suitable temperature and humidity. In a high temperature and high humidity environment, mold is easy to grow and multiply. Therefore, it is necessary to reasonably control the temperature and humidity in the chicken house to avoid providing conditions for mold growth.

2.4. Strengthen the health management of laying hens

The health status of laying hens is an important factor in preventing and controlling mycotoxin poisoning. It is necessary to strengthen the health management of laying hens, including regular vaccination, deworming, physical examinations, etc. At the same time, it is necessary to pay attention to the growth and production performance changes of laying hens, and promptly detect and deal with abnormal situations.