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www.benisonmedia.com ARTICLE Think Grain Think Feed - Volume 12 | Issue 1 | Nov 2025 2020; Palacios-Cabrera et al., Item Newly harvested Aging maize Key difference www.benisonmedia.com

Think Grain Think Feed - Volume 12 | Issue 1 | Nov 2025

Image Source: blog.agribazaar.com
2025).
maize (NM)

(AM)
Qualitative Comparison:
NM had +2.45% moisture
Water content
16.05%
13.60%
Newly Harvested vs. Aged
Dry matter
Maize
Gross energy
16.08?MJ/kg
16.63?MJ/kg
NM had lower Gross Energy
Controlled trials show clear
Source: Zhong et al., 2019 83.95% 86.40% NM had lower Dry Matter
compositional differences
which can rapidly colonize Ochratoxins (OTA)
between NM (harvested
the grain and produce and DON (A
<2 weeks) and aging maize
mycotoxins like aflatoxins, trichothecenes
(AM) (stored ~1 year):
zearalenone, CPA and T2. In subtype), have been
moisture 16.05% vs. 13.60%,
practical terms, this means reported to have
dry matter 83.95% vs.
that poultry feed formulated been reported to
86.40%, and gross energy
with new maize—especially exert stronger
16.08 vs. 16.63 MJ/kg. The
during or after the monsoon effects on the
higher moisture dilutes
season— holds the risk of intestinal barrier.
nutrients and is operationally
introducing significant levels First, they disrupt
relevant because it
of mycotoxins into the diet, the tight junctions
predisposes to mold growth
even before the grain enters between intestinal
and spoilage in
long-term storage (Palacios- epithelial cells,
storage/transport chains Cabrera et al., 2025). leading to increased
New Maize, New Risks: (Zhong et al., 2019). Another ignored challenge is gut permeability or
How It May Affect Dr. Prateek Shukla
multi-mycotoxins “leaky gut.” This
Gut Health Challenges & Beyond? Production? contamination. Even when allows pathogens, toxins, and
For broilers (1–42 d), Feed:
antigens to cross into the
individual toxins are within
Gain (F/G) was found to be recommended limits, their bloodstream, increasing the
By Dr. Satyam Sharma and Dr. Prateek Shukla, Kemin South Asia significantly higher in NM vs. combined presence can risk of systemic infections
partial NM diets, particularly and inflammation. Second,
Maize remains at the center of poultry have negative effects on growth significantly challenge
at 22–42 d and overall. This mycotoxins reduce the
rations (often constituting about performance, compromise gut poultry gut health. This is
confirmed a consistent feed- production and secretion of
55–60%) because of its nutritive value integrity, and increase nutritional especially true under post-
efficiency loss when NM was mucins and antimicrobial
and relatively fewer anti-nutritional inefficiencies. The areas of concern monsoon conditions in India
used at higher levels. In the peptides, thinning the mucus
factors (ANFs) than most energy include the physiological immaturity and post-harvest practices
same experiment, mixing NM layer that normally protects
ingredients; however, newly harvested and comparatively higher moisture often lead to simultaneous
with AM (1/3 or 2/3 NC) the gut lining from direct
maize (NM) used within two months levels of new maize. These can contamination by several
yielded (better) F/G than all microbial attack. Third, they
can adversely affect growth and gut heighten anti-nutritional burden and mycotoxins. Surveys show
NM diets, indicating a dysregulate immune
function due to higher moisture, expose birds to higher mycotoxin that up to three or more
dilution strategy can mitigate signaling, often increasing
immature starch, and ANFs (e.g., contamination under warm, humid, mycotoxins (e.g., aflatoxins,
performance drag when AM pro-inflammatory cytokines
resistant starch, NSP, phytic acid, post-harvest conditions that are trichothecenes, zearalenone
is available (Zhong et al., while reducing protective
protease inhibitors). These risks are common across South Asia. and fumonisins) can be
2019). antibodies, which impairs the
amplified where multi-mycotoxin co- This challenge can have a deleterious detected in a single maize
contamination is common impact on gut health, impair digestion New Maize & Gut Health: sample, particularly in humid, gut's immune defense and
during/post-monsoon, even when and absorption, alter intestinal A Deeper Dive coastal, or tropical regions makes birds more
Dr. Satyam Sharma susceptible to infections.
individual toxins are found within development, and require more Newly harvested maize is (Palacios-Cabrera et al.,
permissible limits. This calls for a intensive nutritional and health particularly vulnerable to 2025). Finally, mycotoxins alter the
comprehensive risk assessment while management to maintain profitability mycotoxin contamination Effect of Mycotoxins on gut microbial balance,
utilizing new maize in poultry rations in operations. For poultry veterinarians due to its high moisture Disruption of Intestinal reducing beneficial bacteria
(Zhong et al., 2019; Guerre, 2020; and nutritionists, integrating post- content and the warm, Barriers and allowing harmful
Palacios-Cabrera et al., 2025). harvest controls, mycotoxin humid conditions often Mycotoxins compromise the bacteria to proliferate, which
One of the aspects which takes a back surveillance, gut health support, and present during and after gut's defense system in a can further worsen gut
seat during the use of newly harvested effective enzyme strategies becomes harvest. These conditions are predictable order, with the health and performance
maize in poultry is the multifactorial essential to protect flock performance ideal for the growth of most severe effects on the (Gao et al., 2020; Guerre,
gut-health risk associated with new while incorporating new maize in toxigenic fungi such as physical barrier. Majorly 2020). For poultry
maize. Gut health disturbances can rations (Zhong et al., 2019; Guerre, Aspergillus and Fusarium, mycotoxins Aflatoxins, stakeholders, this means that
gut health programs should
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