Effects of Mycotoxins on the Health Status of Dairy Cattle

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to highlight some aspects regarding the effects of mycotoxins on the health status of dairy cattle. Fungi producing mycotoxins are very common and can grow on many nutrient substrates and of course in very varied climatic conditions. It is estimated that a quarter of the crops present worldwide are to a large extent contaminated with mycotoxins and the economic consequences are quite serious. Because of large amounts of mycotoxins, crops are destroyed or used as animal feed, leading to poor animal development or death. It is known that if the crops used for feed are contaminated then products like milk and meat will contain mycotoxins or biotransformation products, unfortunately. Regarding the effects of mycotoxins on ruminants, the complexity of developing specific animal studies should be investigated, as there is a multitude of effects that cause confusion.

Keywords

• cattle
• effects
• fungal genera
• mycotoxins