A metabolic disease of cattle seen when the pH of the rumen drops below 5.5. Rumen movement stops and appetite and overall cow production are reduced. Often caused by feeding large amounts of rapidly digestible carbohydrates, such as barley. Acute acidosis can cause death, more common in beef cattle than dairy.
A disease classified as acute has a sudden onset and is severe, it will usually be short lived but can be long lived
A mycotoxin adsorbent is a feed additive capable of binding to mycotoxins in the digestive tract of animals, preventing the absorption of the mycotoxins into the animal’s bloodstream. The adsorbent and the bound mycotoxins leave the animal’s body via the faeces. Also called a binder.
In the presence of oxygen.
Cattle convert aflatoxin B1 to aflatoxin M1, with aflatoxin M1 (also a carcinogen) passing in to milk for human consumption.
Mycotoxins produced by certain Aspergillus moulds, most commonly Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus. The major forms of aflatoxins are aflatoxin B1, aflatoxin B2, aflatoxin G1 and aflatoxin G2. Aflatoxin B1 is the most common and most toxic in both animals and humans. It is a carcinogen so out of all the mycotoxins is the most regulated in both animal feedstuffs and human foods. Cattle convert aflatoxin B1 to aflatoxin M1.
In the absence of oxygen.
Typically storage fungi found in warmer countries, however with climate change countries like the UK are seeing an increase in Aspergillus species contamination of crops. Common Aspergillus species include Aspergillus clavatus, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus ochraceus and Aspergillus parasiticus, all of which are capable of producing different mycotoxins when stressed.