Effects of Mycotoxins on Dairy Production: A Comprehensive Report

This report delves into the detrimental effects of mycotoxins on dairy production. It begins by defining mycotoxins and their sources, emphasizing the vulnerability of dairy cattle due to their high feed consumption and stress. The report details common fungal pathogens affecting dairy cattle, such as Aspergillus fumigatus, and their associated diseases like mastitis and pneumonia. It explores the formation and occurrence of mycotoxins, linking mold growth to environmental conditions and storage practices. The core of the report focuses on the specific impacts of various mycotoxins, including aflatoxin, deoxynivalenol (DON), T-2 toxin, fumonisin, and ergot alkaloids, on dairy cattle health, milk production, and reproduction. The report provides detailed information on the advisory levels for each mycotoxin in animal feed and discusses control techniques, such as feed management and monitoring, to mitigate the negative effects. The report concludes by emphasizing the importance of understanding and controlling mycotoxins to ensure the health and productivity of dairy farms.

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Student name
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Unit
Title: Effects of Mycotoxins on Dairy Production

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Introduction
Berkerroum (2016) describes mycotoxins as chemical substances found in crops and
cause toxic symptoms when ingested by either man or animals. These mycotoxins are produced
by fungi. When a dairy cow ingest food containing these fungi, they suffer from mycosis.
Mycosis attacks cattle especially during stress as their immunity is suppressed. This infection
attacks the intestines, mammary glands, lungs and the uterus, where in the intestines it could lead
to hemorrhagic bowel. Animals could also suffer from mycotoxicosis after consuming foods
containing molds which produce a poisonous substance called mycotoxins. Whitlow and Hagler
(2017), dairy cattle are more resistant to mycotoxins than the beef cattle due to mycotoxin
degradation in the rumen. However, the dairy cattle are more susceptible to these poisonous
chemical substances due to their high feed consumption and stress during production. Ruminants
are exposed to a broader range of mycotoxins as they consume by-product feeds, forages and wet
feeds, which have a higher concentration of these chemicals as compared to dry grain mixtures.
Mycotoxins such as aflatoxins, T-2 toxin, deoxynivalenol, fumonisin, PR toxin, achratoxin,
roquefortine C and mycophenolic acid are a great risk to dairy cattle.
Enyiukwu, Awurum and Nwaneri (2014) claim that that mycotoxins producing fungi
are ubiquitous and are capable of infecting grains at any level, that is during production,
processing and supply chains. Mold infection occurs in the fields as a result of insect infection,
dump conditions, delayed harvesting, poor post-harvest handling, drying, transport and storage
(Tiffany, 2013). Okello et al (2010) associate mycotoxins with oil foods and foods like maize,
wheat, sorghum, wheat and oat, which are mainly human stable foods and raw materials for
livestock.

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Diseases caused by mold on dairy cattle
The most common fungal pathogens on dairy cattle include Aspergillus fumigatus,
Candida vaginitis, candida albicans and Fusarium species. Aspergillus fumigatus is well known
for its effects on dairy cattle. This pathogen is thought to cause mastitis, abortions, mycotic
pneumonia and also has been linked with mycotic hemorrhagic bowel syndrome. This pathogen
is common in hays and silages. Health cows with active immunity are highly resistant to mycotic
infection, however, during the early stages of lactation, dairy cows have suppressed immunity.
Mycotoxins are capable of suppressing the cow’s immunity and hence the affectivity of the fungi
increases. Cattle that consume silage with A. fumigatus show symptoms of malnutrition,
diarrhea, protein deficiency, irritability and even lead to death. When cattle feed on hay having
this pathogen, histopathological changes in the kidneys and liver, and retarded growth are
experienced. Animals infected with A. fumigatus were found to produce high levels of gliotoxin,
which has antibacterial, apoptotic and immunosuppressive effects on the animal and also
influences rumen fermentation. Like A. fumigatus, T-2 toxin is thought to have almost similar
effects on animals. Researchers therefore claim that to control these fungi caused infection on
animals, there is need for a better plan to reduce animal exposure to moldy feeds and mycotoxins
(Becker-Algeri et al. 2016).
Mycotoxin formation and occurrence
Molds grow and mycotoxins are produced during the pre-harvest period or during
transport, storage, feeding or processing of food substances. The growth of mold and production
of mycotoxin are associated with the stress on the plant as a result of insect damage, poor feeding

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conditions, poor weather conditions or inadequate storage practices. Environmental conditions
stress the plants in the fields and expose them mycotoxin contamination. Molds are found in
feeds with a moisture content of about 12 to 15 percent. High moisture content in feeds such as
silage, in presence of oxygen promote the growth of the mold. Since most molds are aerobic,
high levels of moisture in the absence of air can prevent their growth. The conditions promoting
mold growth are not and those promoting mycotoxin formation are not always the same. The
Fusarium molds grow at temperatures between 25 and 30̊ C with little mycotoxins, but at low
temperatures more mycotoxins are formed. Omeiza et al. (2018) claim that about 25 percent of
crops are affected by mycotoxins every year. The effect of mycotoxin on crops cost about $ 1.4
billion to the US agricultural economy. This leads to crop losses and also affects livestock
productivity.
Effects of mycotoxin
Mycotoxicology (the study of mycotoxins) started in the UK after the outbreak of
Turkey-X infection in 1960. The outbreak was brought by peanut meal imported from Brazil.
After massive research, a blue like toxin and A. flavus were discovered, which were the toxic
chemical substances in the peanut meal (Makun et al. 2010). This chemical substance was called
aflatoxin and was found to be very toxic and carcinogenic to animals and caused toxic metabolite
in dairy milk. The discovery of aflatoxin and its effects provoked more research on dairy health
and production problems caused by mycotoxins and moldy feeds. Large doses of mycotoxins are
thought to be the primary cause of acute health and production problems in dairy farming.
Mycotoxin is also a contributing factor increased diseases, poor production and suboptimal
production of diary milk. Although ruminal degradation of mycotoxins protects the dairy cow
from acute toxicity, it also exposes the cow to chronic health problems linked with long term

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consumption of low amounts of mycotoxins. Ruminal degradation of mycotoxins has masked the
effects of mycotoxins in dairy cow, however, more production stress has been experienced.
Viljoen (2013) puts down some of the effects of mycotoxins on dairy farming. These include
altering microbial growth, suppressing the immune functioning, causing metabolic impairment,
reducing the absorption of nutrients, reducing intake of feed refusal and altering the exocrine and
endocrine systems of the dairy cows. Below is an explanation of how different mycotoxins
influence dairy production.
Aflatoxin
Aflatoxin, as stated earlier is a very toxic and carcinogenic compound. It is produced by
Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus. Aflatoxin B1 is found in milk as aflatoxin M1. The limits
for aflatoxin in lactating dairy feed is 20 parts per billion (ppb) and in milk is limited to 0.5 ppb.
Researchers claim that the concentration of aflatoxin in milk is between 0.8 and 2.0 percent of
the total concentration in the feeds. Consumption of feed inflected with aflatoxin leads to ataxia,
inappetence, enlarged fatty liver and lethargy in dairy cows. It also leads to reduced milk
production, reduced appetite, feed efficiency and jaundice. Aflatoxin affects the ability of the
body to resist against diseases and also affects vaccine induced immunity. Research conducted
by the Lowa state University (2014) indicated that health and production of dairy cows is
affected by aflatoxin above 100ppb. Lactating dairy cattle consumed feed containing 120ppb
aflatoxin and a decline in their reproduction was observed. These cow were fed with aflatoxin
free diet and their production increased with more than 25 percent. The table below shows the
levels of aflatoxin in animal feed

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Table I (Becker-Algeri et al. 2016)
Class of animals Feed Aflatoxin level
Finishing beef cattle Corn and peanut production 300 ppb
Beef cattle, swine, poultry Cottonseed meal 300 ppb
Finishing swine over 100 lb Corn and peanut products 200 ppb
Breeding cattle, breeding
swine and immature poultry
Corn and peanut products 100 ppb
Immature animals Animal feeds and ingredients,
excluding cottonseed meal
20 ppb
Dairy animals, animals not
listed above or unknown use
Animal feeds and ingredients 20 ppb
Deoxynivalenol (DON)
This mycotoxin is produced by Fusarium fungi and is sometimes called vomitoxin as it
caused vomiting in swine. Research shows that this chemical substance causes a couple of
disorders on swine including emesis, diarrhea, reproductive problems, feed refusal and even
death. Researchers have not yet discovered its impact on dairy cattle, though some data has
related poor performance of dairy animals with DON. Dairy cattle consuming feeds
contaminated with DON have showed reduction in the rate of production. Research indicates that
DON contaminated feed leads to a 13 percent reduction in milk production as compared to when
the cows are feeding on clean feed. DON also causes rumen fermentation and also affects the
flow of proteins to the duodenum. Cattle fed with DON infected feed for 21 days did not show
any effect on the milk. Just like other mycotoxins, artificial DON does not have much effects on
the dairy production as that found naturally on the feed. Below are the advisory levels of
deoxynivalenol in animal feed

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Table 2 (Becker-Algeri et al. 2016)
Class of animal Feed ingredient and portion
of diet
DON levels in grains and
grains by-products and
(finished feed)
Ruminating beef and feedlot
cattle older than 4 months
Grain and grain by-products
not to exceed 50 percent of
the diet
10 ppm (5 ppm)
Chickens Grain and grain by-products
not to exceed 50 percent of
the diet
10 ppm (5 ppm)
swine Grain and grain by-products
not to exceed 20 percent of
the diet
5 ppm (1 ppm)
All other animals Grain and grain by-products
not to exceed 40 percent of
the diet
5 ppm (2 ppm)
T-2 toxin
This substance is produced by Fusarium fungi and exists in low quantities in feeds. Its
effects are more evident in cattle than in the laboratory. T-2 causes intestinal hemorrhages,
gastroenteritis and even death of the dairy cows (Viljoen, 2013). Reddy et al. (2013) in their
research contradicted with Viljoen. They observed gastrointestinal lesions and feed refusal but
did not observe the hemorrhages syndrome. Consumption of 640 ppb of T-2 for over 20 days
caused enteritis, abomasal, bloody feces and death on the dairy cows. Gutleb et al (2015)
observed decreased milk production, diarrhea, lack of estrous cycles and reduced feeding in
dairy cattle exposed to T-2 feed. Other research indicate reduction in serum immunoglobins,
neutrophil count, reduced immunity and low levels of white blood cells in calves. Avoiding
levels beyond 100 ppb is reasonable for T-2.

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Fumonisin (FB)
This mycotoxin is produced by F. Verticillioides and cause pulmonary edema in swine
and carcinogenic in rats. This substance is thought to cause blocks of sphingolipid synthesis. FB
has high effect on dairy and cattle, sheep and goats. Research conducted on these livestock
indicated lymphocyte blastogenesis and increase levels of enzymes and indication of liver
damage Mwalwoyo and Thole, 2016). Another study was done on Jerseys and Holsteins dairy
cattle, where they were fed with feed contaminated with fumonisin. The research indicated
reduced milk production and reduced feed consumption.
Ergot alkaloids
These mycotoxins are produced by the Claviceps fungi species. Ergotism causes
nervous conditions in dairy animals with other symptoms including lameness, agalactia, weight
gain, low milk production and suppression of the immunity. This mycotoxin is mostly found on
fescue pastures, which grows in most parts of the US.
Control of Mycotoxins
There exist different techniques of controlling in animal feeds. This include use of
anhydrous ammonia, direct flaming and use of sodium bicarbonate. However, these techniques
do not apply on forages contaminated with forages. It could be difficult to denature mycotoxins
in forages and silages but they can be managed to reduce their effects. Mixing affected feed with
clean ones could be a way of minimizing mycotoxin effects. Molds and mycotoxins can be
controlled by monitoring the crop while in the field and during storage. The control of
mycotoxins has been influenced by some factors, like lack of sufficient research and different

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sensitivity of mycotoxins ion different animals. Many farmers do not know the safety levels of
the substances, which has also affected dairy farming.
Conclusion
Molds and mycotoxins have a lot effects on dairy farming. All these mycotoxins
discussed are potential threat to dairy production. There are different types of mycotoxins with
each affecting dairy animals and production differently. However, all mycotoxins seem to reduce
milk production in dairy cows. This is constituted by the fact that after affecting the cow, the
product got from the cow reduces. Taking for example DON, which causes diarrhea, problems in
reproduction and emesis on the cow. This would definitely lead to reduced milk production. It is
therefore important that farmers keep watch of the cattle feed from since they are in the field
until they are in the store.

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