ISSUE FOCUS FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE May 2025 27 FIELD TRIAL I The first field trial was conducted as an on-off design on a German dairy farm with about 1,180 lactating Holstein Friesian cows. Farm production data had shown a clearly negative tendency from spring onwards, reaching a low point in June. The mycotoxin DON was first detected in the milk and then also in TMR together with ZEA. Subsequently, the toxin binder (TB) was added to the TMR of the lactating cows by a premixture, resulting in a dosage of 20 g/head and day in the Start group and 25 g/head and day in the High Yield group for a period of two months. Meanwhile, mycotoxin levels in the milk as well as the development of performance parameters were monitored. Table 1 provides an overview of all results before and at the end of the trial period. During the trial period, all parameters were improved. Considering the on-off character of the trial, these parameters certainly may also be influenced by other environmental factors like the varying quality of feed ingredients. The daily maximum temperatures monitored from June till end of trial period did not show extreme or strongly deviating conditions and are unlikely to have had a decisive influence on the performance as well as the average lactation day of the herd, which was nearly the same. The clear reduction of DON-derivates in the milk with no change in the contamination of the TMR suggests that TB is effective in reducing the bioavailability of DON. This factor may have contributed decisively to the stabilization of performance and health issues during the trial period. After the successful stabilization of the performance parameters, the trial farm discontinued the use of the TB in October. However, after about two months, parameters started to deteriorate, and the milk analysis again showed an elevated DON level. Hence, the farm started reusing TB and parameters stabilized again, including the DON level below the guidance value. Figure 1 shows the development of DON levels in milk and TMR. DON in Milk DON in TMR 1600 1400 1200 1000 800 600 400 200 0 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 [µg/kg] [µg/l] Before TB After TB TB Reuse TB Before TB After TB TB Reuse TB Figure 1. Development of DON levels in milk and TMR Mycotoxin level TMR Mycotoxin level milk Milking average (official monthly testing) Milk fat (monthly average tank milk) Milk protein (Monthly average tank milk) SCC 1,150 ppb DON - 119 ppb ZEA 70 ppb DON 31.3 kg/cow/day 3.66 % 3.20 % 475 [x1,000/ml] 1,519 ppb DON - 163 ppb ZEA 17.3 ppb DON 33.8 kg/cow/day 4.05 % 3.29 % 390 [x1,000/ml] Parameter Before trial End of trial Table 1. Overview results before and at end of trial period
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