Fortunately, the conditions necessary for mycotoxin production rarely occur in locally produced feeds. Therefore, reproductive difficulty due to mycotoxins in Alberta is an infrequent problem. Producers should be aware of these diseases because some feeds imported from other provinces and the United States contain mycotoxins. These toxins are produced by fungi belonging to the family of Aspergillus. Because toxicity is primarily a problem in warmer climates, alflatoxicosis is more common in the United States than in Canada.
Aflatoxins often cause nervous symptoms in affected animals.
The reproductive effects of alfatoxins include abortion, the birth of weak, deformed calves and reduced fertility caused by reduced vitamin A levels. Estrogenism Molds of the Fusarium family are known to produce estrogenic substances such as zearalenone. Estrogenism occurs most often after livestock eat field damaged crops such as corn that has been put up during cool wet weather. Ingestion of infected grains can result in development of feminine characteristics in males, premature sexual development of young females, infertility in adults, abortion, stillbirth and the birth of deformed offspring. The effect is most clearly seen in pigs, but clinical signs can also be observed in cattle.