TRENDS IN FORMULATING, PROCESSING, PACKAGING & CONSUMPTION OF MILLED & BAKED GOODS AND ANIMAL FEED
Managing the Mycotoxins Challenge in Poultry The challenge of mycotoxins in poultry is a rising concern in many African countries
T
By Catherine Wanjiku
he poultry sector is one of the fastest growing agricultural sub-sectors especially in developing countries. The sector plays an extremely important role in these economies in terms of ensuring food security and offering proper nutrition. Factors such as population growth, rise in income levels, and urbanization are set to contribute to the growth of the sector in the future. According to reports by Research and Markets, the sector is expected to grow from US$310.7 billion in 2020 to US$322.55 billion in 2021 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.8%. The market is further
FOODBUSINESSAFRICA.COM
expected to hit US$422.97 billion in 2025 with a CAGR of 7%. Despite the sector being set for exponential growth, poultry birds are faced with a myriad of challenges such as high susceptibility to diseases and infections, which cause huge losses and economic setbacks. One such threat is the ingestion of mycotoxins, which are naturally occurring toxins produced by certain moulds (fungi) and can be found in poultry feed. Some of the moulds that are most common in poultry feed are Aspergillus, Fusarium, and Penicillium. Poultry Science indicates that these fungi produce several mycotoxins such as such as aflatoxins (AF), zearalenone (ZEN), JULY/AUG 2021 | FOOD BUSINESS AFRICA
63
