Mycotoxin Summary Results
Larry Roth, Ph.D., PAS, Vice President of Nutrition
Regional differences were clear for mycotoxin assay results for the 505 corn silage and 303 TMR samples collected between March 1 and September 30, 2024, as displayed in Table 1 and 2 and Figures 1 and 2 for the TMR and corn silage respectively.
Following earlier trends, both corn silage and TMR assays suggest DON contamination is the greatest concern in the Northeast and Great Lakes regions with 14 states averaging high risk results for corn silage and 9 states posting TMR averages in the high-risk zone. Interestingly, WI state-wide averaged just over 1,700 ppb DON; however, individual values ranged from low in the western part of the state to very high in the eastern section of WI. A trend that merits watching is the high fumonisin levels in corn silage and TMR for NC, VA and PA as these areas experienced drought conditions during the 2024 growing season.
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ix states had TMR DON readings in the high-risk category paired with zearalenone levels greater than 150 ppb. The drought conditions in VA likely resulted in the state’s TMR samples assaying in the high-risk range for DON, T-2 and fumonisin as well as medium risk for zearalenone.
The mycotoxin assay results and risk ranges for individual mycotoxins are only part of the decision of utilizing DTX™ as a herd management tool. The occurrence of multiple mycotoxins in the final diet compounds the challenges posed by each single toxin as the animal must defend and protect against the cumulative toxin load. Consequently, past field experiences of dairy nutritionists and producers indicate that herd indicators (health, reproduction and production), or “what the cows are telling us”, must be teamed with mycotoxin assay results to ultimately determine whether DTX should be fed for mycotoxin protection, as well as the amount of DTX. In situations involving the feeding of a high-risk mycotoxin-contaminated diet and multiple herd indicators, nutritionists and producers relate positive results from supplementing the BioCycle™ Plus product.
Agrarian Solutions encourages nutritionists and livestock producers to submit TMR and feed ingredients for mycotoxin evaluation to determine correct protection strategies. Please contact your regional Agrarian representative for assistance with sample submittal and result evaluation.
