Mycotoxins will be the focus of an Oct. 19 webinar hosted by the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Dairy Team, from noon to 1 p.m. Central Time.
Ed Zaworski, plant pathologist for the Plant and Insect Diagnostic Clinic at Iowa State, will join Brady Goetz, nutrition and management consultant with GPS Dairy Consulting LLC.
“Mycotoxins affect dairy cows by reducing feed consumption, reducing nutrient utilization, altering rumen fermentation and suppressing immunity,” said Fred Hall, dairy specialist with ISU Extension and Outreach. “The program will go in depth on managing these issues when found in the ration.”
Fusarium ear rot symptoms on kernels, by Tomasz/stock.adobe.comZaworski will discuss the nature of mycotoxins and what he is seeing in the Iowa corn crop.
“I will discuss what’s involved with identifying different ear rots, and how producers can prepare if they have an ear rot issue in their fields,” said Zaworski.
High concentrations of mycotoxins can be harmful to livestock, including dairy cattle. Producers have multiple options for handling infected grain, depending on the level of infection. Proper grain storage and blending are important factors when grain is affected by mycotoxins.
Most commercial grain elevators test for mycotoxins, according to federal standards, and producers can also sample their own grain, and conduct pre-harvest field scouting.
Source: iastate.edu
Photo Credit: gettyimages-ahavelaar
Categories: Iowa, Livestock, Dairy Cattle