"Mycotoxins exist in almost every feed presented to cows"

Vet Corner

Debunking the myths behind mycotoxins

Author: Dr Luke Miller, DVM

It is a common misconception that, due to the anatomy of a ruminant, mycotoxins may have a lesser effect on the health and production of cattle. This is simply not true. A modern dairy cow’s intake will far outweigh any ability that the rumen environment has to inactivate and denature the mycotoxin levels being fed. Additionally, some mycotoxins can directly affect the microbes and their environments. A rumen microbe simply does not have the time to act before another load of mycotoxins is ingested. On the Alltech® On-Farm Team, we see this on a daily basis when we match results of mycotoxin analysis from the Alltech 37+®mycotoxin analytical services laboratory to the appropriate gut health product.


Mycotoxins exist in almost every feed presented to cows. When we analyze a ration for mycotoxins, we can look at two areas: ensiled forages and concentrates. Both have the potential to expose cattle to significant mycotoxin levels.


Ensiled forages are a key component of most dairy diets throughout the world. Due to the nature and composition of this commodity, ensiled forages often carry a high risk of mycotoxin contamination. 

Mycotoxins can come from two sources: field toxins, which are already present in the forage, and storage toxins, which proliferate during the ensiling and storage process. Significant danger exists for both classes. 

Personally, I have never submitted a silage sample for Alltech 37+ mycotoxin analysis and found it to be completely void of mycotoxins. The clinical signs on the dairy may not exactly match the mycotoxin profile, but this is one of the subtle dangers of feeding mycotoxin-contaminated feed.


Field mycotoxins are a group of numerous different compounds, including, but not limited to, aflatoxin, deoxynivalenol (DON), fumonisins and zearalenone. Reduced growth rate, decreased feed efficiency, altered rumen and gut health, decreased milk production and poor reproductive performance can all be signs of chronic intake of these mycotoxins.


When we change focus to the storage mycotoxins, some of the most common molds that we see are members of the Penicillium family. They produce a variety of mycotoxins, including patulin, penicillic acid and mycophenolic acid. This family of mycotoxins has chemical structures similar to antibiotics developed to treat infections and, thus, has mainly antimicrobial and immune suppressant actions.

Imagine being a dairy cow's digestive system: you have trillions and trillions of live bacteria inside you. If you dump pounds of Penicillium-contaminated feed into that system, you are bound to kill many bacteria. 

For example, patulin has been found to alter the metabolism of nutrients by this exact method, where adverse effects on organic matter, protein and fiber digestion have all been noted. This change could lead to a detrimental impact on the performance and health of the animal. This is a discussion that many producers have not heard, and it is a common-sense approach as to why they may be having feed efficiency issues on their operations.


I often talk to our clients (dairymen and nutritionists) about the types of feed that they are feeding their cows. The agriculture industry does not get the first choice of all the cereal grains or by-products that cows consume. Frankly, our cattle are often the last in line. This fact is somewhat due to the misconception that you can feed a ruminant whatever falls out of the rail car and it will not affect them. 


However, we also have the challenge of availability and resources. Take the widespread wind damage in the Midwest this year, where nearly 10 million acres of corn was ruined. We need to understand that to meet demand, farmers are going to be emptying every silo and shipping all the grain they have available. Some of this product is going to be over two years old. There are bound to be inconsistencies in storage ability and facilities across the country. 

It is imperative that we help our clients be out in front of a potential problem with molds, yeast and mycotoxins bound to emerge from this situation.

Mycotoxin risk can come from other sources in the ration as well, such as by-products. When feeding large amounts of by-products to cattle, as the North American market does, we need to understand that there can be a tremendous level of variability in the quality of these feedstuffs. 


By-products also often contain many different types of mycotoxins from the FusariumPenicilliumAspergillus or Claviceps families. The latter produces ergot alkaloid mycotoxins that can appear on the heads of cereal grains. 


These mycotoxins can cause vasoconstriction of small arteries. The effects of ergot may be seen in the extremities of cattle — legs, feet and even the tips of ears and tails. Depending on the contamination level, this can be a significant cause of lameness with swelling and inflammation. We may also see a lack of heat tolerance and the inability to thermoregulate. 

What may look like classic heat stress, laminitis and production loss, can actually be further complicated by an ergot toxicity issue. 

A dairy that is experiencing production losses and random digestive upset can be a classic example of a hidden mycotoxin issue. Although milk production immediately draws attention, behind the scenes, there can be a significant reproduction issue as well.


Mycotoxins that originate from the Fusarium family are a perfect example. It has been shown that dairy cattle fed diets containing DON, zearalenone and fumonisin mycotoxins show reproductive issues, decreased milk production and mild liver disease. Also, it is noted that due to the production stress level of dairy cattle, they are likely more susceptible to lower levels of these mycotoxins.


To put all of this into real life, I was called to a farm experiencing depressed milk (8–10 pounds per head) and loose manure. After looking at the cows, a feed sample was collected for mycotoxin analysis by Alltech 37+, which can detect the presence of 54 different mycotoxins. 


Cows were depressed and hunched over (an indicator of pain); diarrhea with foam or bubbles was noted at over 50%. During a discussion with the producer, it was noted that the silage was being fed off a dirt pad. The Alltech 37+ TMR sample came back with a moderate REQ, but the clinical signs showed definitive mycotoxin issues. Clostridial species were also detected on this farm.


As a result, we have an example of collaboration between mycotoxins and clostridial species in feed that increases the response in the cattle. We treated the dairy with the appropriate product to respond to the mycotoxin challenge and help deal with clostridial enteritis, and over the next two weeks, the animals responded wonderfully. 

If we were to sum up some key points of mycotoxicosis in cattle, we would focus on the fact that:


Mycotoxins can be the primary cause of decreased milk production

Mycotoxins, through immunosuppression, can be the cause of increased disease incidence

Symptoms are often non-specific and can be wide-ranging

Alltech is a world leader in mycotoxin management, with testing available through both the Alltech 37+ analytical laboratory and Alltech® RAPIREAD™.


With thousands of feed samples submitted annually, we have extensive knowledge of mycotoxin contamination profiles globally. We use this technology in the dairy sector with great effectiveness, and it allows us to make knowledgeable and informed decisions on mycotoxin management in real-time.


If you have any further questions, do not hesitate to reach out to your local Alltech representative.



Vet Corner

Debunking the myths behind mycotoxins

Author: Dr Luke Miller, DVM

It is a common misconception that, due to the anatomy of a ruminant, mycotoxins may have a lesser effect on the health and production of cattle. This is simply not true. A modern dairy cow’s intake will far outweigh any ability that the rumen environment has to inactivate and denature the mycotoxin levels being fed.


Additionally, some mycotoxins can directly affect the microbes and their environments. A rumen microbe simply does not have the time to act before another load of mycotoxins is ingested.


On the Alltech® On-Farm Team, we see this on a daily basis when we match results of mycotoxin analysis from the Alltech 37+®mycotoxin analytical services laboratory to the appropriate gut health product, Integral A+ or Select BAC.


Mycotoxins exist in almost every feed presented to cows.


When we analyze a ration for mycotoxins, we can look at two areas: ensiled forages and concentrates. Both have the potential to expose cattle to significant mycotoxin levels.


Ensiled forages are a key component of most dairy diets throughout the world. Due to the nature and composition of this commodity, ensiled forages often carry a high risk of mycotoxin contamination.

Mycotoxins can come from two sources: field toxins, which are already present in the forage, and storage toxins, which proliferate during the ensiling and storage process.  Significant danger exists for both classes.

Personally, I have never submitted a silage sample for Alltech 37+ mycotoxin analysis and found it to be completely void of mycotoxins. The clinical signs on the dairy may not exactly match the mycotoxin profile, but this is one of the subtle dangers of feeding mycotoxin-contaminated feed.


Field mycotoxins are a group of numerous different compounds, including, but not limited to, aflatoxin, deoxynivalenol (DON), fumonisins and zearalenone. Reduced growth rate, decreased feed efficiency, altered rumen and gut health, decreased milk production and poor reproductive performance can all be signs of chronic intake of these mycotoxins.


When we change focus to the storage mycotoxins, some of the most common molds that we see are members of the Penicillium family. They produce a variety of mycotoxins, including patulin, penicillic acid and mycophenolic acid. This family of mycotoxins has chemical structures similar to antibiotics developed to treat infections and, thus, has mainly antimicrobial and immune suppressant actions.

Imagine being a dairy cow's digestive system: you have trillions and trillions of live bacteria inside you.  If you dump pounds of Penicillium-contaminated feed into that system, you are bound to kill many bacteria.

For example, patulin has been found to alter the metabolism of nutrients by this exact method, where adverse effects on organic matter, protein and fiber digestion have all been noted. This change could lead to a detrimental impact on the performance and health of the animal. This is a discussion that many producers have not heard, and it is a common-sense approach as to why they may be having feed efficiency issues on their operations.


I often talk to our clients (dairymen and nutritionists) about the types of feed that they are feeding their cows. The agriculture industry does not get the first choice of all the cereal grains or by-products that cows consume. Frankly, our cattle are often the last in line. This fact is somewhat due to the misconception that you can feed a ruminant whatever falls out of the rail car and it will not affect them.


However, we also have the challenge of availability and resources. Take the widespread wind damage in the Midwest this year, where nearly 10 million acres of corn was ruined. We need to understand that to meet demand, farmers are going to be emptying every silo and shipping all the grain they have available. Some of this product is going to be over two years old. There are bound to be inconsistencies in storage ability and facilities across the country.

It is imperative that we help our clients be out in front of a potential problem with molds, yeast and mycotoxins bound to emerge from this situation.

Mycotoxin risk can come from other sources in the ration as well, such as by-products. When feeding large amounts of by-products to cattle, as the North American market does, we need to understand that there can be a tremendous level of variability in the quality of these feedstuffs.


By-products also often contain many different types of mycotoxins from the Fusarium, Penicillium, Aspergillus or Claviceps families. The latter produces ergot alkaloid mycotoxins that can appear on the heads of cereal grains.


These mycotoxins can cause vasoconstriction of small arteries. The effects of ergot may be seen in the extremities of cattle — legs, feet and even the tips of ears and tails. Depending on the contamination level, this can be a significant cause of lameness with swelling and inflammation. We may also see a lack of heat tolerance and the inability to thermoregulate.

What may look like classic heat stress, laminitis and production loss, can actually be further complicated by an ergot toxicity issue.

A dairy that is experiencing production losses and random digestive upset can be a classic example of a hidden mycotoxin issue. Although milk production immediately draws attention, behind the scenes, there can be a significant reproduction issue as well.


Mycotoxins that originate from the Fusarium family are a perfect example. It has been shown that dairy cattle fed diets containing DON, zearalenone and fumonisin mycotoxins show reproductive issues, decreased milk production and mild liver disease. Also, it is noted that due to the production stress level of dairy cattle, they are likely more susceptible to lower levels of these mycotoxins.


To put all of this into real life, I was called to a farm experiencing depressed milk (8–10 pounds per head) and loose manure. After looking at the cows, a feed sample was collected for mycotoxin analysis by Alltech 37+, which can detect the presence of 54 different mycotoxins.


Cows were depressed and hunched over (an indicator of pain); diarrhea with foam or bubbles was noted at over 50%. During a discussion with the producer, it was noted that the silage was being fed off a dirt pad. The Alltech 37+ TMR sample came back with a moderate REQ, but the clinical signs showed definitive mycotoxin issues. Clostridial species were also detected on this farm.


As a result, we have an example of collaboration between mycotoxins and clostridial species in feed that increases the response in the cattle. We treated the dairy with Select BAC to respond to the mycotoxin challenge and help deal with clostridial enteritis, and over the next two weeks, the animals responded wonderfully.

If we were to sum up some key points of mycotoxicosis in cattle, we would focus on the fact that:


Mycotoxins can be the primary cause of decreased milk production

Mycotoxins, through immunosuppression, can be the cause of increased disease incidence

Symptoms are often non-specific and can be wide-ranging

Alltech is a world leader in mycotoxin management, with testing available through both the Alltech 37+ analytical laboratory and Alltech® RAPIREAD™.


With thousands of feed samples submitted annually, we have extensive knowledge of mycotoxin contamination profiles globally. We use this technology in the dairy sector with great effectiveness, and it allows us to make knowledgeable and informed decisions on mycotoxin management in real-time.


If you have any further questions, do not hesitate to reach out to your local Alltech representative.



Vet Corner

Debunking the myths behind mycotoxins

Author: Dr Luke Miller, DVM

It is a common misconception that, due to the anatomy of a ruminant, mycotoxins may have a lesser effect on the health and production of cattle. This is simply not true. A modern dairy cow’s intake will far outweigh any ability that the rumen environment has to inactivate and denature the mycotoxin levels being fed.


Additionally, some mycotoxins can directly affect the microbes and their environments. A rumen microbe simply does not have the time to act before another load of mycotoxins is ingested.


On the Alltech® On-Farm Team, we see this on a daily basis when we match results of mycotoxin analysis from the Alltech 37+®mycotoxin analytical services laboratory to the appropriate gut health product, Integral A+ or Select BAC.


Mycotoxins exist in almost every feed presented to cows.


When we analyze a ration for mycotoxins, we can look at two areas: ensiled forages and concentrates. Both have the potential to expose cattle to significant mycotoxin levels.


Ensiled forages are a key component of most dairy diets throughout the world. Due to the nature and composition of this commodity, ensiled forages often carry a high risk of mycotoxin contamination.

Mycotoxins can come from two sources: field toxins, which are already present in the forage, and storage toxins, which proliferate during the ensiling and storage process.  Significant danger exists for both classes.

Personally, I have never submitted a silage sample for Alltech 37+ mycotoxin analysis and found it to be completely void of mycotoxins. The clinical signs on the dairy may not exactly match the mycotoxin profile, but this is one of the subtle dangers of feeding mycotoxin-contaminated feed.


Field mycotoxins are a group of numerous different compounds, including, but not limited to, aflatoxin, deoxynivalenol (DON), fumonisins and zearalenone. Reduced growth rate, decreased feed efficiency, altered rumen and gut health, decreased milk production and poor reproductive performance can all be signs of chronic intake of these mycotoxins.


When we change focus to the storage mycotoxins, some of the most common molds that we see are members of the Penicillium family. They produce a variety of mycotoxins, including patulin, penicillic acid and mycophenolic acid. This family of mycotoxins has chemical structures similar to antibiotics developed to treat infections and, thus, has mainly antimicrobial and immune suppressant actions.

Imagine being a dairy cow's digestive system: you have trillions and trillions of live bacteria inside you.  If you dump pounds of Penicillium-contaminated feed into that system, you are bound to kill many bacteria.

For example, patulin has been found to alter the metabolism of nutrients by this exact method, where adverse effects on organic matter, protein and fiber digestion have all been noted. This change could lead to a detrimental impact on the performance and health of the animal. This is a discussion that many producers have not heard, and it is a common-sense approach as to why they may be having feed efficiency issues on their operations.


I often talk to our clients (dairymen and nutritionists) about the types of feed that they are feeding their cows. The agriculture industry does not get the first choice of all the cereal grains or by-products that cows consume. Frankly, our cattle are often the last in line. This fact is somewhat due to the misconception that you can feed a ruminant whatever falls out of the rail car and it will not affect them.


However, we also have the challenge of availability and resources. Take the widespread wind damage in the Midwest this year, where nearly 10 million acres of corn was ruined. We need to understand that to meet demand, farmers are going to be emptying every silo and shipping all the grain they have available. Some of this product is going to be over two years old. There are bound to be inconsistencies in storage ability and facilities across the country.

It is imperative that we help our clients be out in front of a potential problem with molds, yeast and mycotoxins bound to emerge from this situation.

Mycotoxin risk can come from other sources in the ration as well, such as by-products. When feeding large amounts of by-products to cattle, as the North American market does, we need to understand that there can be a tremendous level of variability in the quality of these feedstuffs.


By-products also often contain many different types of mycotoxins from the Fusarium, Penicillium, Aspergillus or Claviceps families. The latter produces ergot alkaloid mycotoxins that can appear on the heads of cereal grains.


These mycotoxins can cause vasoconstriction of small arteries. The effects of ergot may be seen in the extremities of cattle — legs, feet and even the tips of ears and tails. Depending on the contamination level, this can be a significant cause of lameness with swelling and inflammation. We may also see a lack of heat tolerance and the inability to thermoregulate.

What may look like classic heat stress, laminitis and production loss, can actually be further complicated by an ergot toxicity issue.

A dairy that is experiencing production losses and random digestive upset can be a classic example of a hidden mycotoxin issue. Although milk production immediately draws attention, behind the scenes, there can be a significant reproduction issue as well.


Mycotoxins that originate from the Fusarium family are a perfect example. It has been shown that dairy cattle fed diets containing DON, zearalenone and fumonisin mycotoxins show reproductive issues, decreased milk production and mild liver disease. Also, it is noted that due to the production stress level of dairy cattle, they are likely more susceptible to lower levels of these mycotoxins.


To put all of this into real life, I was called to a farm experiencing depressed milk (8–10 pounds per head) and loose manure. After looking at the cows, a feed sample was collected for mycotoxin analysis by Alltech 37+, which can detect the presence of 54 different mycotoxins.


Cows were depressed and hunched over (an indicator of pain); diarrhea with foam or bubbles was noted at over 50%. During a discussion with the producer, it was noted that the silage was being fed off a dirt pad. The Alltech 37+ TMR sample came back with a moderate REQ, but the clinical signs showed definitive mycotoxin issues. Clostridial species were also detected on this farm.


As a result, we have an example of collaboration between mycotoxins and clostridial species in feed that increases the response in the cattle. We treated the dairy with Select BAC to respond to the mycotoxin challenge and help deal with clostridial enteritis, and over the next two weeks, the animals responded wonderfully.

If we were to sum up some key points of mycotoxicosis in cattle, we would focus on the fact that:


Mycotoxins can be the primary cause of decreased milk production

Mycotoxins, through immunosuppression, can be the cause of increased disease incidence

Symptoms are often non-specific and can be wide-ranging

Alltech is a world leader in mycotoxin management, with testing available through both the Alltech 37+ analytical laboratory and Alltech® RAPIREAD™.


With thousands of feed samples submitted annually, we have extensive knowledge of mycotoxin contamination profiles globally. We use this technology in the dairy sector with great effectiveness, and it allows us to make knowledgeable and informed decisions on mycotoxin management in real-time.


If you have any further questions, do not hesitate to reach out to your local Alltech representative.