While we have been lucky so far in Iowa to not have to wade through flooded pastures or spend hours sandbagging such as our neighbors to the North this year, we still cannot forget the devastation the flood of 2008 had on our state. With 83 of the state's 99 counties being declared disaster areas by Governor Chet Culver and an estimate exceeding $1.45 billion in losses to crops, livestock and personal property/income, the 2008 Iowa floodwaters left a toll on the state’s agricultural sector and economy.
Even though the waters have receded, we may still be seeing some implications from the flood, especially in our animals. Flood damaged grain has the potential for many contaminants to enter through the water. While most of this crop was never blended or salvaged through drying and cleaning, some producers may still find this contaminated grain showing up in their feed, leaving the potential to cause serious health risks to their livestock.
Warm, wet conditions are ideal for mold growth. The grains at harvest should not have more than 13 to 14 percent moisture. If the grains contain more than this recommended moisture, it is highly suggested to use mold inhibitors (organic acids) at appropriate concentrations. These mold inhibitors reduce the further growth of molds and subsequent mycotoxin production.
According to Randy Cragoe, Cragoe Consulting, high-moisture corn should be analyzed for mycotoxins before storage or feeding and should be stored in separate, temporary structures such as bags to avoid possible contamination of permanent storage structures.
“Special care should be taken to make sure that silos/bunks are packed well,” Cragoe said. “The use of silage inoculants can be valuable. Care should also be taken to store straw and hay properly as they can also be a source of mycotoxins.”
Mycotoxins are harmful toxins produced by molds that are found in the soil and can grow on vegetative matter including grain, forages and silages. Mycotoxins can be formed in the field pre-harvest and may continue to be formed 
under sub-optimal storage conditions post-harvest. Aflatoxins and Fusarium mycotoxins are often associated with moldy corn.
The problems for livestock can be quite variable depending on the species and type of toxins identified in the feed source. In swine and equine, there is a higher sensitivity to contaminated feed, and feed avoidance is a common symptom of mycotoxicoses in these animals. For gestating and lactating sows, where feed intake is induced, symptoms such as immune suppression, reduced ability to absorb nutrients from the gastrointestinal tract and a reduced utilization of proteins in the body are more common.
Ruminant animals on the other hand are the most resistant due to microorganisms in the rumen that can degrade toxins before they enter the bloodstream. Harmful effects can be observed however, in high producing dairy cows. Reduced milk production, impaired reproduction and immunity suppression in cows are possible effects of mycotoxicoses.
Once mycotoxins have made their way into the feed, there are still a few options available to the producer. “They either should not feed the contaminated feed or should use an effective mycotoxin adsorbent,” Cragoe said.
There are two types of adsorbents: silica-based polymers and carbon-based organic polymers. Silica-type materials are readily available and many have shown to be effective against aflatoxins, but ineffective against other types. An organic glucomannan polymer extracted from the cell wall of the yeast cell, is a natural fiber source and can often be used at practical levels of inclusion.
Editor’s Note: This commentary is sponsored by Alltech, where mycotoxins are a leading area of study. Through 29 years of research-driven product development, Alltech has created a range of natural solutions for the feed and food industries. For more information, please visit the Web sites at www.alltech.com or www.knowmycotoxins.com.
This commentary is for informational purposes only. The opinions and comments expressed herein represent the opinions of the author--they do not necessarily reflect the opinion of Farms.com. This commentary is not intended to provide individual advice to anyone. Farms.com will not be liable for any errors or omissions in the information, or for any damages or losses in any way related to this commentary.