December 24, 2009
American swine nutritionist suggests moldy corn is still edible
Marcia Shannon, Missouri state swine nutrition specialist, offers advice to farmers how best to feed this year's moldy corn, without adversely affecting the health or productivity of farm livestock and poultry.
The best solution is to buy clean grain for swine and dairy as they are most susceptible. However, some moldy feed may be fed to beef cattle. Feeder cattle should be able to safely consume levels five to 10 times higher than swine and dairy.
Thus, ruminants older than four months can withstand 10 to 20ppm of vomitoxin. Signs of toxicity with vomitoxin/deoxynivalenol (DON) are usually feed refusal or feed intake reduction. At concentrations of 5 to 10ppm, vomitoxin vomiting is observed in swine.
Zearalenone concentrations should not exceed 2ppm in growing and finishing pigs. Signs of toxicity that may be observed in swine with zearalenone are a disrupted estrus cycle, enlarged mammary glands, and swollen vulva.
