Dairy farmers produce more milk worldwide.
According to a FAO forecast, global milk production is expected to increase by 1.0% in the year 2025. The biggest growth is expected in Asia, as reported by the ZMB.
Mykotoxins in animal feed can cause significant losses even without visible mold.
Assessing the toxic potential of a feed ration is challenging. Typically, only a few mycotoxins are determined. Additionally, the effects and processes of toxins in the animal body vary greatly. Little is known about how individual mycotoxins interact in their effects or what breakdown products of the toxins may occur. If a herd with the same feed experiences a rapid decrease in feed intake and milk production in all groups (up to six liters per cow per day on average in a few days), mycotoxins could be the cause, even if no mold is visible. Immediate sampling and measures should be taken in such cases.
Recognizing Problems
There is a wealth of scientific knowledge, case studies, and practical experiences on how mycotoxins affect cattle. Despite many unanswered questions, there are typical acute and chronic manifestations that are also dose-dependent. It can be observed that any mycotoxin contamination reduces feed intake and milk production, damages the liver and kidneys, and weakens the immune system. The use of blood tests for diagnosis is still a topic of discussion, and such a practice has not yet become widespread. In addition to the mentioned mold fungi, there are specific types of fungi that spread in silage and significantly affect animal health.
This was a highly condensed summary of the original article. For more in-depth information, read the full specialized article and explore the digital edition of agrarheute.