Silage contribution to aflatoxin B1 contamination of dairy cattle feed

ALONSO V.A; GONZÁLEZ PEREYRA M.L; DOGI C.A; DALCERO A.M.; ROSA C.A.R.; CHIACCHIERA S.M; CAVAGLIERI L.R.

Aflatoxins

Editorial InTech open Access Publisher

Año: 2011; p. 37 - 52

Silage Contribution to Aflatoxin B1 Contamination of Dairy Cattle Feed Alonso V.A. González Pereyra M.L., Armando M.R., Dogi C.A., Dalcero A.M., Rosa C.A.R., Chiacchiera S.M. and Cavaglieri L.R. 1. Introduction Dairy production systems have traditionally relied on direct utilization of pastures and annual soiling crop. This feeding strategy is complemented by the use of other feeds such as grains, balanced feed, silage, hay and industrial products, the level of use was variable and it defined in any way the degree of intensification of each dairy production systems. Over recent decades, this intensification has been increasing at an accelerated rate, partly because the farms that remain, integrated into general agricultural-livestock mixed models, increasing land for agriculture, as a result of best price-cost and simplicity of production. This change in management practices in dairy cattle breeding, from the extended to semiintensive or intensive form, has meant a change in the way animals are fed. The change from grazing over large areas of land to cowshed feeding with grain-based concentrates and silage has greatly improved productivity increase on the number of animals per hectare and, in turn, improved performance and milk production per cow due to the nutritional advantages afforded by the new way of eating. The dairy industry has been driven to higher levels of efficiency and competitiveness. This management system makes storing feed necessary as it is used throughout the year whether it is produced in the same establishment or not. This raises the concern to protect these products from damage by insects, pests and fungal contamination in order to maintain an appropriate level of feed security. Storage systems for feed, both silage and whole grains are a man-made ecosystem in which quality and nutritive changes occur because of interactions between physical, chemical and biological factors. The deterioration by fungi and mycotoxin contamination is one of the greatest risks of stored feed. Apart from reducing palatability and feed consumption, fungal growth leads to loss of nutrients and dry matter causing in animal performance. In order to correctly reference this scholarly work, feel free to copy and paste the following: Alonso V.A., González Pereyra M.L., Armando M.R., Dogi C.A., Dalcero A.M., Rosa C.A.R., Chiacchiera S.M. and Cavaglieri L.R. (2011). Silage Contribution to Aflatoxin B1 Contamination of Dairy Cattle Feed, Aflatoxins - Detection, Measurement and Control, Dr Irineo Torres-Pacheco (Ed.), ISBN: 978-953-307-711-6, InTech, Available from: http://www.intechopen.com/books/aflatoxins-detection-measurement-and-control/silagecontribution- to-aflatoxin-b1-contamination-of-dairy-cattle-feed