Sector News27-2-2018
Mycotoxins are found everywhere. They are produced by moulds, either as a result of some stress factor on the mould itself (too cold, wet etc), or as a means to increase the competitiveness of the mould in the environment (eg. to help invade the host plant). The effects they can have on ruminants are very varied and often mistaken for other common problems.
As higher dry matter wholecrop and maize silages will soon be fed, the threat of mycotoxins will increase. Moulds can grow and produce toxins until all air is expelled from the clamp, which can be an issue with very high dry matter silages where it may be impossible to expel all the air.
Moulds may or may not be present on feeds, so the issue of identification can be troublesome. The Fusarium mould, for example, does not survive at low pH, so any Fusarium in cereals for silage will not be present once ensiling has occurred. But their mycotoxins will be.
- Mild, moist weather leads to high mould growth
- Late harvesting produces higher crop stress
- Greatest risk from aged crops like maize, cereals