THE increasing mycotoxin risk to cattle, means that feed management must be factored in to almost every dairy herd health programmes.
That was the key message from leading expert in the field, Professor Johanna Fink-Gremmels, when she spoke at a vet's meeting hosted by Alltech UK.
She has spent several decades researching the mechanisms involved in the toxicity of mycotoxins and told attendees that their effect in ruminants is greatly underestimated.
“As a result of emerging fungal threats across Europe and varied diets, consisting of both concentrate feed and forage, ruminants are being exposed to an increasingly complex mixture of mycotoxins,” pointed out the professor.
And, while acute mycotoxicoses is occasionally seen, the majority of herds present more subtle symptoms.
“Chronic mycotoxin exposure initiates a cascade of adverse effects. Along with impaired rumen function, mycotoxin ingestion can initiate a generalised inflammatory response.
"This results in a broad range of symptoms, such as reduced milk yield, increased disease prevalence and a drop-in fertility,” she said.
With such wide-ranging symptoms, she said that understanding cow 'signals' could help identify such issues. “If a cow is displaying any signs associated with mycotoxin exposure without any other obvious diagnosis, further investigation should be sought to rule out mycotoxins,” said Professor Fink-Gremmels.
“A broad-spectrum mycotoxin test, such as the 37+ test offered by Alltech, can accurately identify the type and levels of any mycotoxins in feed, enabling an informed decision on any mitigatory measures.
“If intervention is necessary, strategies should focus on improving the rumen flora and reducing the availability of mycotoxins through the addition of a broad-spectrum mycotoxin binder, to minimise the effects on cow health and performance,” she concluded.