HIDDEN DAIRY HEALTH CHALLENGES TO BE DISCUSSED AT LONDON VET SHOW
28 October 2014
The increasing pressure on dairy production systems has led to a rise in awareness of mycotoxin challenges in herds – and veterinarians are being urged to consider appropriate control strategies.
Dr Derek McIlmoyle, AB Vista’s GB & Ireland Technical Director, will give that message during a presentation at the upcoming London Vet Show to highlight the dangers of sub-clinical ketosis and mycotoxins, and how they can be controlled.
“Our herds are increasingly under metabolic and production stress, so are more susceptible to the negative effects of mycotoxins,” Dr McIlmoyle says.
“Ten to 20 years ago, there was a lot less pressure on production systems, meaning that cows could more easily deal with mycotoxins. Today we need veterinarians to put control strategies in place in order to assist in reducing mycotoxin levels, to reduce clinical and sub-clinical disease and maximise production efficiencies.”
Dr McIlmoyle will present new research data, prepared in collaboration with Nottingham and Bristol Universities, Duchy College, Micron Bio-systems, and Mole Valley Farmers, analysing the grass, maize silage and TMR feeds from 50 farms, finding high levels of pathogenic bacteria, mould and mycotoxin contamination in many samples.
The title of Dr McIlmoyle’s presentation is: ‘How to control the hidden threats of sub-clinical ketosis and mycotoxins in dairy herds’; he will also give an overview of sub-clinical ketosis and the benefits of rumen protected choline in the transition period.
“Using rumen protected choline during the transition period can assist as part of a wider control strategy for sub-clinical ketosis, which we believe is having a larger impact on herds than what is currently believed,” he explains.
Dr McIlmoyle will present during the London Vet Show, Friday November 21, from 12:25pm - 1:10pm in the BVA Farm Theatre, Olympia Grand, London.
ends
Notes to editor:
AB Vista is a leading global supplier of micro-ingredients for the animal feed industry.
For further press information please contact Nic Daley or Mike Keeler on +44 (0)20 8647 4467.
ABV/042/14
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