Beef Cattle
- Liver damage
- Depressed immune function
- Disease outbreaks
- Rectal straining
- Prolapsed rectum
- Reduction in mild yield
- Reduced growth rate
Guidelines to follow if feeding beef cattle contaminated feed with mycotoxins.
- Creep feeds and diets for gestating and lactating beef cows should contain less than 20 ppb of aflatoxin.
- Unstressed, growing-finishing cattle in excess of 400 pounds may be fed diets containing up to 100 ppb of aflatoxin.
- Diets for stressed feeder cattle should contain no more than 20 ppb of aflatoxin. Stressful conditions include weaning, shipping, extreme heat or cold, diseases, and parasites.
- Animals destined for slaughter should receive aflatoxin-free diets for at least 3 weeks before slaughter.
Dairy Cattle
Symptoms of mycotoxicosis Sub-Clinical:
- Reduced fertility
- Unsettled cows<
Symptoms of mycotoxicosis Clinical:
- Milk production
- Inconsistent milk yield
- Low butterfat levels
- Higher cell counts
- Variable intakes
- Acidosis-type symptoms
- Reproduction
- Calf & Heifer Raising
- Loose and variable feces, scouring, bloody feces
- Lethargy
- Impaired immune function
- Poor rumen function
- Lower leg / teat swelling
General poor performance without any alternative explanation