Fermented feeds are fed to ruminants and corn silage is probably the most important feed for dairy cattle. In most dairy farms it supplies the majority of the energy and fiber in the cows’ ration. In order to meet requirements for cows to efficiently grow, make milk and reproduce they need to be managed to eat large quantities of feed and anything that disrupts these high levels of feed consumption will reduce productivity and profitability. Corn silage can become contaminated with molds either in the field, while in storage in the silo or during feedout. In addition, since corn silage makes up the greatest portion of feeds in a diet, corn silage can also be the largest source of mycotoxins ingested by dairy cows. Excessive amounts of mycotoxins can reduce feed consumption, reduce milk production, increase somatic cells (white blood cells) in milk and induce abortions. Moreover, mycotoxins can transfer into milk where they can be consumed by humans. Weather and insects are the two most important factors related to amounts of mold and mycotoxins in corn prior to harvest. Controlling insect damage is a prophylactic practice that can reduce the occurance or amount of mycotoxin that end up in corn silage. Mitigating mycotoxins in silage is difficult since dilution of this feed source is not usually practical and testing can be variable and expensive. Various binders have been used to treat feed that is contaminated but results are equivocal.
