The challenge of mycotoxin contamination to Indigenous chicken production in Western Kenya

Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites of fungi commonly present in the environment. They grow under favorable conditions on extensive variety of substrates in the form of fungi mycotoxin contamination which present risk to crops, livestock and human health at large. Presence of aflatoxin in livestock feedstuff affect performance and productivity of animals and man if consumed beyond permissible levels, posing potential risks to animals and indirectly to human health because of toxic residues contained in animal products. Symptoms of negative effects include drop in general animal productivity, increased susceptibility to disease, chronic damage to vital organs and decreased reproductive performance. Risks of these toxins in animal feeds can be controlled in either pre- or post-harvest stages of feed processing. Main strategies for prevention at pre-harvest stage include proper agronomic practices, use of resistant varieties, application of nontoxigenic fungal strains, minimizing both insect and mechanical damage; while post-harvest approaches involve drying and cleaning ofcommodities, storage in facilities that provide protection from excessive moisture, useof pesticides and other appropriate antifungal agents and protection from rodents and insects. At policy level, regulatory authorities need to take steps that address the issue of aflatoxin contamination to safeguard consumers and protect livestock, especially in the poultry industry. Additionally, quality control strategies should be implemented and efforts to safeguard food sources and utilization enhanced for security, especially in rural areas of developing countries.