Take control in the battle against mycotoxins

Mycotoxins remain a major cause of lost production in dairy herds. When problems occur it is essential to take action quickly to reduce the impact. Mycotrap is a new weapon for the effective control of the eleven most commonly occurring mycotoxins in animal feeds as UFAC-UKs Joe Magadi explains.

Mycotoxins are toxins produced by moulds and fungi that colonise feedstuffs. Even at low levels they will reduce performance in cattle. Including supplements in the diet which bind or adsorb the toxins render them inactive and excretable so reducing the risk and the impact on health and performance.

Independent tests at Gent University in Belgium, prove that Mycotrap has outstanding binding capacity for a broad range of economically damaging and commonly occurring mycotoxins including Aflatoxins, Fumonisin, DON and ZEN. It is proven to be effective at all the pH ranges present throughout the gastrointestinal tract.

As well as minimising the risk of mycotoxin poisoning, the inclusion of glycerine means Mycotrap uniquely helps the animal cope with the consequences as well.

As a precursor of glucose, glycerine helps boost the animal’s energy supply to fight infections and so supports recovery of the immune system. In addition, glycerine acts as a preservative, helping minimise the deterioration of feeds caused by the moulds which produce mycotoxins by inhibiting their growth in both feeds and finished rations.

The typical feed rate for ruminants is 25 grams/head/day or included at 3-5kg/tonne in finished feed, giving a cost of around 5p per cow per day, making it a very cost-effective solution.

Mycotrap gives producers a new two-pronged approach to preventing mycotoxins from reducing livestock performance and productivity. By minimising the initial risks and then helping the animal resist the challenge, Mycotrap is a new highly effective weapon in the battle against all commonly occurring mycotoxins.