Effect of a modified glucomannan fraction from

yeast cell extract (Mycosorb) on milk production

in dairy herds in Southern Italy

OR
A practical case example of
mycotoxins contamination in dairy
herds in Southern Italy
S. Andrieu
Alltech Biotechnology Centre, Ireland
 Mycotoxins?
Yes, which one?
Toxigenic fungi Mycotoxins thought to be the most prevalent and the most
potentially toxic to dairy cattle
Aspergillus Aflatoxin, Ochratoxin, Sterigmatocytsin,
Fumitremorgens, Fumitoxins, Fumigaclavines,
Cyclopiazonoic Acid, Gliotoxin
Fusarium
Deoxynivalenol, Zearalenone, T-2 Toxin, Fumonisin,
Moniliformin, Nivalenol, Diacetoxyscirpenol, Butenolide,
Neosolaniol, Fusaric Acid, Fusarochromanone,
Wortmannin, Fusarin C, Fusaproliferin
Penicillium Ochratoxin, PR Toxin, Patulin, Penicillic Acid, Citrinin,
Penetrem, Cyclopiazonic Acid, Roquefortine,
Isofumigaclavines A and B, Mycophenolic Acid
Ergot alkaloids in seed/grains of small grains, sorghum,
Claviceps
grasses
Epichloe & Neotyphodium Ergot alkaloids in fescue grass
Stachybotrys Stachybotryotoxins, trichothecenes
 Mycotoxin Synergy
Natural versus pure mycotoxin : different results

Synergy :i.e Penicillic acid and citrinin

No effect is fed separately
Death if combined

Cows: 75 ppb DON + 0.25 ppm zerealenone = feed refusal.

Toxic doses (alone): 300 ppb DON; 1 ppm zearalenone

Conjugated mycotoxins
Mycotoxin Rumen Metabolism
Zearalenone
(0-40%)
Aflatoxin
(0-30%) Ochratoxin
(50-100%)

DON Fumonisin
(0-50%) (0-35%)

T-2 Toxin
(0-70%)
 Mycotoxin effect in cattle
T2- Toxin
T2-Toxin, ZEA, DON
Gastro-enteritidis
ZEA Immune suppression
Intestinal hemorrhage
Vulvovaginitis
Prolapse
Embryo mortality

T2-Toxin, DON
Feed intake
DON depression
Cystic ovaries
Patulin, PR toxin,
Roquefortin
Aflatoxin, DON, T2-Toxin
Antibiotic effect
Lower milk production
 Suspecting mycotoxins?
Criteria for alert
Documented symptoms
Damaged target tissues
Post-mortem examination: gut irritation, oedema,
generalized tissue inflammation
Feed analysis
Response to dietary absorbent/ removal of some feedstuff
Possible primary factor resulting in MY losses, increased
incidence of disease
Increased incidence of disease, atypical disease
Sampling in non uniform batches
Protein Aflatoxin
12 12 11 13 0 0 0 0 0

12 13 12 13 0 0 0 0 0

12 13 11 12 0 0 0 0 0

12 11 12 13 0 0 8000 0 0

13 12 11 12 0 0 0 0 0
Average = 12 Average = 400
 Products from the yeast cell
Mycosorb
Inner and Outer Cell Wall Inner (glucan)
Whole yeast
r b
so
co
My

Extract Outer (mannan)

 Effect of Feeding Fusarium-mycotoxin
Contaminated Feeds to Serum
Composition of Lactating Dairy Cows

Diet IgA Urea Globulins

(g/L) (mmol/L) (g/L)
Control 0.35a 5.3a 40a
Contaminated 0.16b 6.3b 48b
Contaminated + 0.27a 5.5a 45a,b
0.2% Mycosorb
 What can be seen on production
22.5
22.0 results? Control
21.5
2.5 ppm DON
21.0
4% FCM kg/d

5 ppm DON
20.5
20.0 5 ppm DON + 10g/d
19.5 Mycosorb
19.0
18.5
18.0
17.5

400
SCC x 1000
300

200

100

0
 Farms description- Southern Italy
Farm 1 Farm 2
84 Holstein cows 74 Holstein cows
Good management Well-managed farm
TMR feeding based on corn silage TMR feeding based on corn silage +
Main issue: Fiber in feces, irregular alfalfa hay
intake- Non responsive to buffers- Main issue: Poorer lactation
high SCC performance than previous year,
some diarrhea cases
Silage management:
Mouldy sidewalls Silage management:
Red coloured moulds Very dry silage
Areas of heating in silage TMR hot in feeding bunk
Mouldy smell Acid smell
No silage inoculant No silage inoculant
 SCC results- Farm1

600

500
SCC x 1000/ml

400

300

200

100

0
-1 -2 1 2 3

before Mycosorb Mycosorb

Months
SCC results- Farm2

700
600
500
SCC x 1000/ml

400
300
200
100
0
average of 3 month average of 6 month average of 3 month
before Mycosorb with Mycosorb after Mycosorb
 Milk production

27

26

25

24

23

22
Farm 1 Farm2

Before Mycosorb
Similar results obtained in CZ farms where
mycotoxins contamination were analyzed
(4840 cows)
120
% of SCC after Mycosorb use

100

80

60

40

20

0
before after after after after
Mycosorb 14 days 1 month 2 month 3 month

J.Kratky, 2005
Thank you for your
attention