A disease that effects the nervous system of animals who have ingested perennial ryegrass containing high levels of lolitrem B. Symptoms include ataxia, lack of coordination, collapse and head shaking. These effects are temporary but lack of coordination can causes drowning and running into fences etc. Most common when pastures are over-grazed.

Ryegrass Staggers

A hooved animal with a rumen. A ruminant’s process of digestion involves ingesting plant matter, regurgitating the semi-digested material (cud), chewing the cud, re-swallowing this material and fermenting it in the rumen. Sheep, cows, goats and buffalo are ruminants (see rumen).

Ruminant

Microscopic, single celled organisms that live in the rumen of cattle, thriving off of the nutrients ingested by the cattle and breaking down the feedstuffs, benefitting the cow.

Protozoa

Feedstuff fed to livestock that contains various plant based materials, additives and essential nutrients. Can be added to grain or forage. Bought from premix companies. Usually pelleted.

Premix

Typically storage fungi found in a wide range of crops and silage. Capable of producing a wide range of mycotoxins.

Penicillium sp.

A mycotoxin produced by Penicillum moulds, such as Penicillium roquefortine. Commonly found in silage so is classified as a silage mycotoxin.

Penicillic acid

A mycotoxin produced by Penicillium moulds, including Penicillium roquefortine. It is a neurotoxin and causes a lack of coordination and muscle weakness in animals that have ingested it. Patulin reduces the production of volatile fatty acids in ruminants, reducing the amount of energy a cow is capable of obtaining from its diet. Patulin is commonly found in silage so is classified as a silage mycotoxin.

Patulin

A microorganism capable of causing disease.

Pathogen

The presence of oxygen in cells causing their impairment.

Oxidative stress

A mycotoxin, classified as a Type B trichothecence, produced by various Fusarium moulds. An immunosuppressant.

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