Molds may produce harmful levels of potent mycotoxins under certain circumstances. Molds may always produce some mycotoxins. Effects of mycotoxins Initially mycotoxins cause relatively minor problems. The reduction in performance may be negligible. Off-feed, ketosis and displaced abomasum problems may increase significantly with the consumptions of mycotoxins.
Some animals develop diarrhoea or have signs of haemorrhaging.
The effects of mycotoxins are amplified by production stress. High producing dairy cows and rapidly growing feedlot cattle are more susceptible to the effects of mycotoxins than low producing animals. DON did not show significant differences in milk yield. Zearalenone BUT similar reproductive disorders could not be demonstrated in cattle fed 200 - 300 ppm Zearalenone contaminated feed. Research and field data on the effects of molds and mycotoxins are highly variable and often contradictory.