Enhancing Farm Sustainability: How Can Management Strategies Reduce the Negative Impacts of Clostridium and Mycotoxins Contamination on the TMR?

View the project report

Commodities

• Animal Products: dairy

Practices

• Animal Production: feed/forage, feed rations
• Education and Training: demonstration, extension
• Sustainable Communities: sustainability measures

Dairy farms often host harmful microorganisms. These include bacteria like Clostridium. The occurrence of Clostridium in dairy farms is a concern for dairy producers because their spores can contaminate the soil, animal feed, total mixed ration (TMR), and feces. Spoiled silage in the TMR is a significant contributor to increased spore content, exposing animals to Clostridium. Consumption of Clostridium and its products in poor quality fermented feeds have been reported to negatively impact the ruminal environment and feed intake. Other concerning microorganisms include mold, which can contaminate animal feed, accelerate spoilage, and lead to mycotoxin production, posing risks to animal health and milk safety.

Our study aims to achieve three main objectives: (1) assess the occurrence of Clostridium and mycotoxins in the TMR, (2) establish effective forage and TMR management practices for controlling Clostridium and mycotoxins, (3) understand their impact on animal health, performance, and reproduction. We will visit 30 commercial dairy farms in Maryland to collect TMR samples, management, health, performance, and reproduction data. The first two years will focus on TMR collection, management practice assessment, and performance data gathering. Each farm will receive educational materials on the related topic. In the third year, final reports will be provided to participating farms, and 2 field days will be hosted for further outreach.

Our outreach strategy includes direct engagement with farmers to gather feedback and understand their perspectives. We will collaborate with farmers throughout the research process to ensure the relevance and applicability of our findings.

This project seeks to address the problem of mycotoxins and Clostridium contamination in TMR samples through a comprehensive research and outreach strategy. We aim to: (1) Assess Occurrence of Clostridium and Mycotoxins in TMR: We hypothesize that the source of contamination of Clostridium and mycotoxins in TMR is due to the conditions and management practices adopted on the farm. The project will involve visiting 30 commercial dairy farms in Maryland to collect TMR samples. The selection of farms will be based on a survey identifying those experiencing challenges with Clostridium or mycotoxin contamination. From these farms, TMR samples will be collected and analyzed to determine the presence and levels of Clostridium and mycotoxins, providing crucial insights into the extent of contamination in dairy cow diets; (2) Establish Effective Forage and TMR Management Practices: Based on the findings from the analysis, the project will work towards establishing effective forage and TMR management practices for controlling Clostridium and mycotoxin contamination. This may involve recommendations for proper harvesting techniques, storage practices, and the use of mycotoxin binders to mitigate risks to animal health and safety; (3) Understand Impact on Animal Health, Performance and Reproduction: By analyzing the collected TMR samples and correlating them with health, performance, and reproduction data gathered from the farms, the project aims to follow the farms over the course of the project (years 1 and 2) to be able to associate the level of contamination with the performance and health status of animals.