Select Sires

SELECTIONS - Fall 2004
Mycotoxins and Reproduction

By Don Lamb, director of sales - feed division, All West/Select Sires Inc.

Feeds containing mold-produced spores are a growing concern for dairy producers. Mold spores reduce the nutrient quality of grain and produce secondary metabolites, known as mycotoxins. These poisons affect the digestive, immune and reproductive functions of the dairy cow and can allow other diseases to invade from an already depleted immune system.

While there are hundreds of mycotoxins, only a few can be adequately identified for further study. Researchers now understand that these toxins, even at low levels and in combination with others, are far more debilitating than high levels of individual toxins due to a cumulative effect.

Growing, Harvesting, and Management of Feeds

Key soil-borne molds, such as Fusarium and Aspergillus, increase during periods of extreme weather. These weather changes, along with current economics of feed crop production, have changed tillage and production practices allowing increases in mold growth potential. The cool wet weather in many parts of the country during much of this year's growing season has set the stage for mycotoxin challenges on many dairies this fall and winter.

Spores containing mycotoxins lay dormant in storage, even after oxygen has been removed. Once re-exposed to oxygen, added growth occurs at an incredible rate. Common practices such as loosening silage for feed-out or single daily feed mixing, allows mixed feeds an excellent opportunity to produce high toxin levels before consumption.

Nutrition, Mycotoxins and Reproduction

Nutritional factors, such as high MUNs (Milk Urea Nitrogen), acidosis and mycotoxins, all can have a negative effect on herd health status because they stress the immune function of the cow. Any damage to immune function debilitates reproductive performance. It may be clinical or sub-clinical but it happens every time. Optimum reproduction can only be achieved when the affect of mold produced mycotoxins, along with other nutritional problems, are controlled.

Preventive Action

Mycotoxin testing is one option to determine the level of challenge. Dairy producers should take action when suspect feed ingredients are being fed, symptoms are observable, or tests show the presence of multiple toxins at any level. Your Select Sires representative can assist you with submitting a feed sample for testing.

More and more dairies are routinely using the Select BioCycle Family of products from Agrarian Marketing Corporation to maintain high reproductive levels and reduce herd health challenges caused by undetected moldy feed ingredients or related nutritional problems. For more information contact your Select Sires representative or for technical assistance, contact Agrarian Marketing Corporation at 888-254-1482.

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Select Sires Inc., 11740 U.S. 42 North, Plain City, Ohio 43064 / Phone: (614) 873-4683 Fax: (614) 873-5751