Mycotixin Effects in Dairy Cattle

• Molds are filamentous (fuzzy or dusty appearing) fungi that occur in many feedstuffs, including roughages and concentrates. • Molds can infect dairy cattle, especially during stressful periods when they are immune suppressed, causing a disease referred to as mycosis. • A wide range of different molds produce poisons called mycotoxins that affect animals when they consume contaminated feeds. • A mycotoxin poisoning is called mycotoxicosis. • Mycotoxins are of constant concern, but some growing seasons produce increased problems. • The U.N.'s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimated that worldwide, about 25% of crops are affected annually with mycotoxins. • Molds are present throughout the environment and therefore, mycotoxins can be formed on crops in the field, during harvest, or during storage, processing, or feeding. • Spores are in the soil and in plant debris and lie ready to infect the growing plant in the field. • Fungal field diseases are characterized by yield loss, quality loss, and mycotoxin contamination. • Mold growth and the production of mycotoxins are usually associated with extremes in weather conditions leading to plant stress or hydration of feedstuffs, insect damage, poor storage practices, low feedstuff quality, and inadequate feeding conditions. • Aspergillus, Fusarium and Penicillium molds are among the most important in producing mycotoxins detrimental to cattle. • The mycotoxins of greatest concern include: aflatoxin, which is generally produced by Aspergillus mold; deoxynivalenol, zearalenone, T-2 toxin, and fumonisin, which are produced by Fusarium molds; and ochratoxin and PR toxin produced by Penicillium molds. • Several other mycotoxins, such as the ergots, are known to affect cattle and may be prevalent at times in certain feedstuffs. • There are hundreds of different mycotoxins,which are diverse in their chemistry and effects on animals. • Mycotoxin-contaminated feeds often contain multiple mycotoxins. • Management of crop production can reduce, but not prevent, the occurrence and concentrations of mycotoxins. • Feed and feeding management practices can reduce the production and impact of mycotoxins • Experimentally, mycotoxins binders have been effective at reducing mycotoxin effects.