Mycotoxin

[wpenrod]

I dont know if this has been a problem all around this country or just in my area but I have a few questions that maybe some could help me with. I know if corn has hardly any Mycotoxins at all pigs will just refuse to eat it. The ethanaol plants in my area have also recently said that they will only except corn under a certain PPM and you get docked pretty heavy and over a certain PPM they wont take it at all. I also heard of a local small feed lot that usually grows their own corn having to out out and by some left over corn from last year to feed their cattle. Dad just sold the last of our corn from last year so im going to have to start using some of this years corn. My question is are cattle like pigs and just wont touch the stuff or will they eat it and do something harmfull to them? I have tried to find some info on the web and cant seem to find much. Did know if any of you could help me out or now. And how few PPM does it have to be before its same for cattle.

Thanks in advance for any info.
Wesley

 

[DL]

there has been a lot of work done on this topic, esp in regards to dairy cattle

http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/livestock/dairy/herd/food/mico2.htm
http://www.thebeefsite.com/articles/1808/mycotoxins-in-cattle
http://www.uwex.edu/ces/forage/wfc/proceedings2001/dairy_mycotoxin.htm
http://www.cattletoday.com/archive/2009/November/CT2104.php

there are different kinds of mycotoxins with different ppm ranges - you can get your feed tested

 

[oakbar]

Molds are much more prevalent throughout the corn belt this year.  Customers in western Ohio have been telling me that have had considerable problems with vomitoxin and our distributors are selling mold control products at a record pace this fall.  Most of the turkey accounts I work with test for T2s and other fusarium on a regular basis.  That's the bad news.  The good news is that cattle(ruminants), in general, are less susceptible to mold toxins than pigs, chickens, or turkeys(monogastric animals).  It certainly is  something to be aware of but not overly concerned about unless the other livestock producers(hogs, chickens, turkeys) in your area start having extreme problems.  Probably a good topic to bring up with your extension agent or beef specialist and to ask your feed supplier about.

 

[Show Heifer]

This year I plan on testing my purchased grind and mix feed on a batch basis. Why? Because several years ago everything was going well until I got a new batch of feed. My yearling heifers were cycling perfectly, growing well. I then got a new batch of feed about Late April. I noticed within a few weeks that the heifers were not cycling regularly like they were previously. I was planning on AI'ing them mid May on natural heats. Sometimes they would stand for 1 hour, sometimes for days, then they would recycle in 6-10 days, sometimes they wouldn't recycle for 4-6 weeks. As soon as I noticed the odd cycles, I started in investigate. A fella that worked in the mill told me he was getting his feed from another elevator due to the fact they were "cleaning out bins and scraping up scraps". I called the "manager/owner" and he assured they tested all grain for mycotoxins. Well, I tested it myself and found unbelievably high amount of four types of mycotoxins, include zeralynone (sp?). This mycotoxin basically memics estrogen, which of course is what caused my heifers problems. It took me all summer to straighten out my heifers, some calved in July instead of Feb but eventually did calve. I also had to purchase (actually made the feed mill buy) a product called "Feed Bond" (or something like that) which is a fine powder that is suppose to "bind the molds from entering the digestive system". All I know it was $120 for 25 pounds.
This year, corn in actually molding in the field. Not a good thing.
Don't trust your feed mill on testing.... they are in the business to sell corn, just keep that in mind!
So to be sure, I am testing each batch, and might consider feeding a bonding product.....

 

[TMJ Show Cattle]

Being in the feed business this year has certainly been a challenge.  Not only have we seen record low prices, we have seen a record low summer temp , hail damaged crops, and very wet October.  This combination sets up our corn and bean crops for mold and yeast problems.  As Oakbar says, the corn belt has alot of mold in the fields.  It dried out two weeks ago and the combines started to roll.  We have been testing numerous samples of shelled corn and high moisture corn for molds and yeast.  What I am finding is that the MOLD is not high enough to hurt the cattle, but the YEAST count is worse than I have ever seen it.  For example, a high yeast count on high moisture corn (HMSC) is considered to be 20 million.  I recieved a sample on Thursday with the mold count being 100,000 and the yeast count being 580,000,000!!! 100,000 on mold count os considered transitional.  Put a binder in and you will be safe.  However, Toxin binders do NOT bind up yeast!  I met with a gentleman from Prince Agri Products last week. His recommendations are to put in a yeast binding product .  Then feed a good yeast and sodium bicarb to repopulate the rumen. What yeast will do to a cow is cause loose manure and colicky type symptoms.  A milking cow will quit milking (beef or dairy) It looks alot like winter dysentary or Salmenella, without the fever. Yeast is a precursor to mold, so in this case, we will expect the mold to come even though it is not considered HIGH right now.  

Be aware...we are expecting most corn by products to contain this as well.  This includes corn distillers, corn gluten feed and dry corn.  Also, be aware that feeding screenings this year will be a challenge as well.  I would recommend NOT feeding them to pregnant animals or breeding age animals.Feedlot cattle are OK because they are terminal.

Hope this helps answer some questions.

Show Heifer...we are in the business to sell corn...but we have to BUY it before we can sell it!  Not many farmers have  good corn to sell this year in the midwest.  GREAT topic for your ag class!  I know WE are teaching it!!

Carrie

BTW.. most binding products will cost about $.07-$.14 per head daily.  Pretty cheap insurance when considering abortions, or cystic animals. JMHO

 

[farmin female]

TMJ

Thank you for the very good advice.  I was having problems with one of our show steers and even got to thinking that maybe he had some e coli or such.  But I was also considering some of the feed as a source of his digestive problems.  But, long story short, can you give me the name of a yeast binding agent?  I would appreciate any more info you have on the topic.  Thanks so much!

 

[aj]

When I was working with a corn flaking outfit we lost an account to it. I believe it was picked up in milk samples of the large dairy. I think this milk was dumped or discounted. Anyway they test regularly at the flaking plant. I'd say 70% of irrigated corn still in the field here. Alot of milo not making test weight requirements of 50 pounds so elevators not taking it cause there isn't enough heavy milo to blend it.