Know Mycotoxins - Global Mycotoxin Information Resource

Nutritionist > Dairy

Feeding Strategies
As the risk if mycotoxicosis is very difficult to predict or evaluate, prevention strategies should be initiated when assessing even a low risk situation. Prevention strategies must primarily aim at minimising mycotoxin formation in the field and during storage.

A significant reduction in mycotoxin formation can be achieved by good agronomic practices, for example:

Selection of crop varieties that are more resistant to fungal foliar diseases
Ploughing up harvest residues
Avoiding no-till soil management practices
Proper crop rotation
Avoiding monoculture

During storage of dry feed ingredients, mycotoxin formation can be successfully controlled by monitoring the moisture content of the feed. If the moisture content is below 12%, moulds become metabolically inactive, and the risk of mycotoxin formation is strongly reduced. To avoid mycotoxin formation be aware of the following:

Moisture content below 12%
Relative humidity below 60%
Storage temperature below 20 °C
Clear grain, avoid broken kernels
Control insects and rodents
Avoid stress (frost, heat, pH changes)

The incorporation of technical mould inhibitors such as Moldzap (Alltech Inc, USA) further enhances stability of feed and ingredients during storage.