Mycotoxins are showing no signs of retreat, according to Cargill’s latest global feed data. Over 70% of tested feeds still harbour these invisible threats, directly impacting animal performance. The urgent message: smarter, more aggressive risk management is critical for livestock producers worldwide.
Cargill Micronutrition and Health Solutions has released its 2025 Global Mycotoxin Report, presenting one of the most extensive surveillance datasets in the feed industry. Based on 389,926 analyses across 41 countries, the report highlights a persistently high level of mycotoxin pressure affecting livestock production worldwide.
Mycotoxins persist despite new solutions
The findings confirm what many nutritionists and feed manufacturers have observed in recent years: despite advances in testing and mitigation, mycotoxins remain a widespread and complex challenge. According to the report, 71% of all analysed feed samples contained detectable mycotoxins, illustrating the near‑ubiquity of contamination across global feed supply chains.
Performance-based risk: A new standard
More notably, 34% of samples exceeded performance‑based risk thresholds – a metric Cargill emphasises is more closely aligned with real‑world productivity outcomes than traditional regulatory limits. These thresholds assess contamination levels in the context of their likely impact on animal performance, providing a more actionable framework for producers.
Key toxins: DON, FUM, and ZEN in focus
Among the toxins evaluated, deoxynivalenol (DON) continues to be the most significant concern. The report notes that 53% of DON‑positive samples exceeded performance thresholds, underscoring its status as the most prevalent and impactful mycotoxin in global feed production. Fumonisins (FUM) increased in risk compared to the previous year. Zearalenone (ZEN) remained consistently high across multiple regions.
Multi‑toxin exposure is the new normal
An increasingly important aspect of mycotoxin risk is not just individual toxins but their combinations. The dataset shows that nearly half of all samples (47%) tested for multiple mycotoxins contained 3 or more contaminants, presenting significant implications for animal health and reinforcing the need for comprehensive risk management strategies.
Clement Soulet, category lead of Anti-Mycotoxin Agents at Cargill Micronutrition and Health Solutions, said performance impact was a real concern: “That is why we apply solutions based on performance rather than focusing solely on regulatory minimums,” he added.
Regional variation and species-specific insights
The report highlights significant regional variation in both prevalence and concentration of mycotoxins, influenced by climate, crop systems, and storage conditions.
- North America and China continue to experience high DON pressure
- Parts of the Americas and Asia show elevated FUM prevalence
- ZEN remains consistently high in several European and Middle East and Africa markets
- Aflatoxin (AFL) pressure increased in parts of Asia compared to the prior year
Cargill said the regional differences underscored the importance of localised testing, interpretation and mitigation strategies in partnership with a mycotoxin specialist.
Species-specific performance impact
The report also evaluates risk through the lens of animal performance. It showed that:
- 17% of samples exceeded performance thresholds for calves and heifers
- 27% exceeded broiler performance thresholds
- 26% exceeded nursery pig performance thresholds
Across species, DON and ZEN remain leading contributors to performance variability, affecting gut integrity, immune resilience, reproductive performance and feed efficiency.
Producers encouraged to actively manage mycotoxin risk
With the data showing that structural mycotoxin pressure remains high globally, Cargill is encouraging producers to adopt comprehensive risk‑management strategies, from field‑level monitoring and raw‑material testing to the use of proven anti‑mycotoxin agents.
Clement added: “Effective mycotoxin management requires more than mitigation. It requires data-driven decisions. Our goal is to help producers translate global insight into practical, performance-focused action.”
