Cattle require large amounts of feed before they reach market size, depending on the grazing potential of the land, cattle need feed to make it all the way to market. When feeding cattle, it is important to take special care to avoid the risk of Mycotoxins. Mycotoxins can cause a host of painful and unpleasant symptoms for cattle including convulsions, frequent sickness and decreased grow.
Mycotoxins are a form of fungi that grows on cattle feeds, these spores are most present in moisture rich environments with high temperatures. One of the key factors for spore growth is storage, when grain, cereal or crops are held in damp places the chances of contamination grow higher.
When looking to reduce the risk to cattle on the farm there are a few important things to remember. The first is that Mycotoxins are fungi, if you see spores, mold or other growths it is important to remove it from the feed and get the feed tested for contamination. It is also recommended to farmers to dry forage thoroughly before it is stored and to avoid mixing it with newly harvested forage.
Keeping animals healthy will assist them in fighting off Mycotoxins. If you do suspect your animals are ill because of Mycotoxins, contact your veterinarian immediately.
To learn more about Mycotoxins and other cattle issues visit, beefresearch.ca.