Blue Mold on Corn for cows ?

[oldmanriver]

I need a quick reply so I posted here . I used up all my ear corn for feed . Went and bought some from a friend . We didn't notice till they had started to grind it at the mill that it had some blue mold on some of it not a lot but maybe s hand full would hsve 1 kernal smelled fine . Will this hurt my cows I only feed them a small amount ever day , 14 head 2, 5 gallon buckets full . It was 800 lbs of corn with 2 bales of hay and a protien suppplement added , I sure hate to lose the feed .

[sidepasser]

try this -
http://www.ipm.uiuc.edu/diseases/ser...206/index.html

[sidepasser]

First post not as applicable as this one:

http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/...food/mico2.htm

While I do fungus testing in a laboratory, I am not able to comment on feeding moldy feed to cattle. What I will say is this..

If it were my cattle, I would not do so.
If it were my horses, I'd throw it out.

I would guess it would depend on the extent of the mold problem, but I can say with all honesty that the type of mold that is involved would need to be assayed.

I utilize some molds/fungus in the my lab that a mere pinch would render a grown person in the hospital for days with pnuemonia if breathed in by that person.

Your best bet would be to ask over at the cattle forum..perhaps they know.

[woodsman]

I have some pest birds visiting our property so whenever I find moldy corn I put it where only they can eat it.

[palani]

Local dairy farmer paid out $15k to the local vet a year or two ago. His cows were aborting due to moldy ear corn.

[rancher1913]

a percentage of mold in the 20% range has never hurt my cows, mater of fact thats all I can aford. grind and mix -- the cows won't know the differance. pampered cows may have a worse time then mine that have to scrounge cornstalk afterfeed. mine even eat moldy hay the neighbor throws over the fence, its what he won't feed his horses and my cows love it.

[rambler]

Mold means the grain is going out of condition, so proceed at your own risk....

My understanding is the red colored molds are the really bad ones.

A small percent of mold in the corn is not so bad for cattle. It sounds like you have a complete feed mixed for them?

Pregnat cows are more sensitive than other types of cattle.

From the little you said about it, I would feed it to my cattle, they should be tolerant of what you are describing.

--->Paul

[Lazy J]

Feeding moldy grain is asking for problems. Mycotoxicosis can occur in grains that don't have visible mold contamination. If you are seeing mold then you should not be feeding it, of course if you don't care about efficiency of your cattle growth or the health of the animals then by all means feed it.

Jim