As 2013 corn silage is beginning to be more widely fed, producers need to be aware of the findings from a recent U.S. harvest analysis and the impact it may have on herd health and performance. We recently conducted a harvest analysis survey for corn silage and various grains to identify which mycotoxins are present and their levels of concentration in this year’s crops. The analysis was utilized to identify which of a possible 38 mycotoxins were present in each sample.

Most of the 2013 crop has been harvested and is beginning to be fed to dairy cows across Canada; however, dairy producers need to be aware of the mycotoxins brought in with the year’s crop, and the impact they can have on herd health and performance.

More than 90 percent of corn silage samples taken during the 2013 harvest tested positive for multiple mycotoxins, according to a recent harvest analysis conducted by Alltech.

The 2012 corn crop started out with early planting and emergence before it took a turn for the worse, tormented by a severe and widespread drought.