Mold Clumps in the feed

[deineria]

I suppose we overbought in the grain area, and we keep it in huge trash cans with the lids in the barn, and the bags did get a bit damp from a quick, light rain shower as we drove home - anyway, at least 250 lbs of the feed now has some mold in clumps in the bottom of the cans and here and there.

I assume I just need to throw it out - but that is a lot of feed, so I wanted to double check and see if feeding it to our jersey heifer would be out of the question.
I don't want to feed anything risky. I just ask because I know the old thing I've heard from farmers here is how you can feed a lot of round bales to cattle that you can't to horses because of the mold you can find throughout.

[ozark_jewels]

Seeing how it is for cattle consumption(not goat or horse), I wouldn't throw it all out. I would make sure the slightly moldy stuff was mixed with good grain, and I would throw out the actual mold clumps. I know our dairy cattle feed(we buy 8 tons every other week) molds a little in the high humidity we have here in southern MO, and sometimes our roof over the grain bin has leaked, causing mold.
We also feed haybales all winter that have some mold around the outside. Usually, in small amounts, average mold is no problem for cows.

[springvalley]

I`m with Emily, throw out the big clumps, feed the rest. If anything can handle mold cattle are better than most. Never feed moldy stuff to horses, sheep or goats.>thanks marc

[deineria]

Glad to hear. I have already went through and thrown out any obvious mold clumps.
No, I wouldn't consider letting the goats or horses touch it.

[francismilker]

Originally Posted by ozark_jewels

Seeing how it is for cattle consumption(not goat or horse), I wouldn't throw it all out. I would make sure the slightly moldy stuff was mixed with good grain, and I would throw out the actual mold clumps. I know our dairy cattle feed(we buy 8 tons every other week) molds a little in the high humidity we have here in southern MO, and sometimes our roof over the grain bin has leaked, causing mold.
We also feed haybales all winter that have some mold around the outside. Usually, in small amounts, average mold is no problem for cows.

I learned something there Emily. I've always assumed a goat had an iron stomach with all that they consume. Thanks for the info.

[ozark_jewels]

Originally Posted by francismilker

I learned something there Emily. I've always assumed a goat had an iron stomach with all that they consume. Thanks for the info.

Yeah, goats love all the thorny, weedy greenery, but they are very susceptable to mold(more so than horses by far). It can cause abortion issues, brain swelling, blindness(all things associated with listeriosis or goat polio) or simply death.
Thats why when feeding round bales especially I watch my hay very closely.
Its the main reason we goat owners are SOOO picky about our hay.