ISSUE FOCUS 42 FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE November 2024 Tyler Turner Technical Species Expert Ruminant dsm-firmenich Ignacio Artavia Global Marketing Manager for Ruminants Animal Nutrition and Health dsm-firmenich The next generation of genetics is expected to deliver on performance and carry the profitability of the farm, so why risk the future stars? The value of calves to the future economics of the farm has been preached by researchers and advisors for a long time. Clearly, managers have been listening when it comes to testing and ensuring calves get adequate amounts of high-quality colostrum in a timely manner. Improvements in housing and animal welfare have also advanced considerably over the years. Understanding animal nutritional requirements to meet today’s genetics, beyond protein and energy, but vitamins and minerals as well, continue to be a hot topic with the focus on early rumen development and minimizing health risks. While the debate on how to best stimulate early rumen development and transition to a forage-based diet will continue for some time, a potentially serious confounding factor facing calves from an early stage, all the way through their adult lives is often underrepresented in the discussion of calf health and development: mycotoxicosis. WHAT IS MYCOTOXICOSIS? Mycotoxicosis relates to the acute or chronic damage to the animal caused by mycotoxins in the diet. Mycotoxins are produced by fungi with the variety dependent on the environmental temperature and humidity. The vast majority of mycotoxins known for their harmful effects are produced in the field, with fungi of the Fusarium family “Mycotoxins are concentrated on the seeds, placing swine and poultry production at a higher risk, however, calves are particularly vulnerable owing to their underdeveloped rumen – in essence, just as vulnerable as a young monogastric. But it is not only cereals typically in starter feed that are a risk; an array of mycotoxins has also been found in corn silages…” MYCOTOXINS POSE AN UNSEEN RISK TO CALF DEVELOPMENT
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