Forage quality still causing problems on many farms
On my travels around the country I have begun to see more and more mould/spoilage in pits of Grass Silage, Maize and Whole crop.
This issue in my opinion has been brought about by over wilting of silages and delayed harvesting of maize and grain crops. Something that has also become a problem is incorrectly setup rakes and mowers, bringing clay into swaths during silage making.
A lot of 2014 forage’s are too dry in pits and this is reflected in the poor preservation with very high pH’s.
What harm are Moulds or toxins in silage?
Most farmers will discard the obvious moulds on the top and sides of pits. But if mould exists visually in the clamp then there is likely to be plenty of mould that you can’t see.
Moulds are likely to be high in harmful Mycotoxins. Mycotoxins are toxic contaminants which are produced by moulds and can be found in mixed feed, forages and straights, affecting animal health and feed efficiency. They reduce the bug population in the rumen causing poorer nutrient and mineral absorption/digestion. In most severe cases mycotoxins or moulds can cause milk to fail antibiotic tests in dairy herds.
Signs that you could have a Mycotoxin issue
n Excessive pit face
moulding/spoilage
n Poor animal performance
n Poor animal demeanour
and coats
n Loose Dungs
n Poor appetite and/or
intakes of feed
n Poor fertility
performance
n Significant levels
of Mastitis
n Poor Milk yields/Solids
n Potential loss of calf in pregnancy.
How should you handle a Mycotoxin issue on the farm?
It is possible to test for Mycotoxins and this can be a costly exercise and can take a long time for results to return.
One way to establish if you have an issue is to include a Mycotoxin Binder in your diet to see if your animals respond.
A positive response to the Binder should be pretty quick if you have an issue. I have seen some amazing responses in the last few weeks, with animals eating significantly more feed, dungs firming up and improved performance.
Obviously including a Mycotoxin Binder in a diet is no excuse for poor management so you still need to practice good pit management and discard any obvious mould.
