The mycotoxin threat to ruminants

In comparison to monogastrics, ruminant animals are generally considered to be less susceptible to the negative impacts of mycotoxins. This is based on the assumption that rumen flora degrade and inactivate in-feed mycotoxins. However, a number of mycotoxins resist rumen breakdown and ruminants often have to deal with a myriad of different challenges due to the complex nature of their diets. Transition cows are particularly sensitive to moulds, fungal spores and mycotoxins.

How do mycotoxins affect ruminants

Mycotoxins can be the primary agent causing acute health or production problems in a dairy herd but are more likely to be a contributing factor to chronic problems, including a higher incidence of disease, poor reproductive performance or suboptimal milk production. Mycotoxins mainly exert their effects through the following mechanisms:

The complex challenge of ruminant diets

Ruminant diets typically contain both concentrates and forages. This increases the risk of exposure to multiple mycotoxins. Forages (grazed and conserved), fermented feeds and by-products all represent a significant risk to cattle depending on soil contamination, forage harvesting date, silage management, purchased feed origins and on-farm feed storage conditions.

Mycotoxin sources - forages

Mycotoxins in forages (grass, hays, silages) present the greatest threat to cattle. Even fresh grass for grazing can be contaminated with several mycotoxins. These typically include fungal endophytes that produce mycotoxins, which protect the plant in some way, such as ergovaline and lolitrem B, as well as Fusarium mycotoxins, such as zearalenone or deoxynivalenol (DON).

Cattle are typically fed conserved forages (as silage) during the winter. Ensiled forages are more likely than dry forages (e.g. hay) to harbour moulds and associated mycotoxins – especially when fermentations and anaerobic conditions are not strictly controlled. Feeding any silage showing signs of mould growth should be avoided.