DHIA Service Center, Orchard Road, University Park, PA 16502
QUESTION; Are there things
we can do to prevent mycotoxins . .. e
in this vear's feed? 1. Clean out old feed and, if pos
m this year s teea/ sib ic, disinfect surfaces.
ANSWER: Unfortunately, this
question came in about the time
most corn silage was finished.
For those of you with long sea
son varieties, or the desire to refill,
we can talk about some sound
approaches to silo filling. This is
also the same time of year to be
ensiling that last bit of alfalfa or
grass crop.
2. Harvest at proper maturity to
obtain the highest quality feed.
3 .Harvest at proper moisture to
ensure good packing and proper
fermentation.
4 Jill as fast as possible, and
pack properly in bunk silos.
With a dry summer like we had
in parts of the state, a judgement
call needs to be made to establish a
balance between proper moisture
and proper maturity. Moisture at
time of ensiling must lake precen
dence over maturity, if we me
going to have proper fermentation
with com silage.
Ensiling and Storage
1. Cover silo with plastic,
attempting to eliminate as much
oxygen as possible.
2. Recheck covers on regular
basis and repair holes. Covers on
tower silos become loose as silage
settles. Weighting the edges or
persistent tucking can help with
this.
S.Consider using innoculants or
preservatives as added insurance
to feed quality.
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Storage and feeding
1. Silage remains silage all year
if the above procedures are a year
ly practice and not just thought of
at time of ensiling.
2Jn bunks, feed evenly from the
face and use four to six inches per
day. Always dig a wedge from the
bottom first and then knock feed
down from above it, until you’re at
the top. This will prevent cracks
and air entry back through die
feeding face.
3.bi tower silos, feed 5 to 6
inches, until you reach well
packed silage, and then feed 3 to 4
inches.
4.Remove spoiled feed from
feeding areas promptly, so good
feed doesn’t become
contaminated.
These arc not new ideas, but will
serve as remineders that feed qual
ity is a year-round job.
Doing all of the above should
lessen the chances of a toxin prob
lem on your dairies.
I would encourage everyone to
assess the feed management
changes they have made in the last
20 years and then adapt new strate
gies that will help them deal with
the problems that come along with
their new management
In today’s modem dairies that
use wet feeds in higher proportions
than ever before, toxins will be a
problem that will have to be met
and dealt with.
The sealed silos will not elimi
nate this problem because a nice
layer of mold forms on top every
time we stop filling for a period.
We don’t see it as it blends with
other feed coming out
Bunks that aren’t covered cer
tainly are a potential spot to find
molds and toxins. With toxins
being very water soluble, every
time, it rains toxins are moved
down into our piles of feed.
Even silage bales are
suspect to toxins. Often
silage bales are made
when the weather
doesn’t allow us to
make the feed in any
other way. This type of
weather is also what
allows molds and toxins
to develop on standing
crops.
Follow good feed
making procedures.
Test for toxins regularly
in conditions and feed
ing styles that can prom
ote toxin development.
Look for telltale signs of
toxins activity such as
reduced dry matter
intakes, cystic ovaries,
increased SCC and clin
ical mastitis, abortions
and decreasing cow
health.
As always, contact
your nutritionist and
veterinarian to solve the
problem. Lastly, my
phone line is always
available to you.
HAY, STRAW
& GRAIN
SALE
Every Thursday
at 12 NOON
Vintage Sales
Stables, Inc.
(Rt. 30,10 miles east
of Lancaster
in Paradise, PA)
For Info.
(717)442-4181 bus.
(610) 458-8518 home
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