Mouldy feed can quietly turn a profitable ruminant enterprise into a painful loss, because certain fungal toxins may damage health, behaviour, and nervous function suddenly. Good feed protects valuable animals.

Animals consuming contaminated feed may develop trembling, incoordination, abnormal eye movements, breathing difficulty, unusual vocalization, weakness, or collapse, depending on the toxin involved in feed. Early recognition saves lives.

These signs require immediate attention because severe poisoning can progress rapidly. Remove suspected feed, provide safe feed and water, and seek qualified veterinary assistance promptly. Act quickly when symptoms appear.

Prevention begins with proper feed storage, moisture control, clean feeding equipment, regular inspection, and immediate disposal of visibly mouldy or suspicious feed before feeding animals. Prevention protects productivity.

Mycotoxin binders or other approved feed additives may help reduce risks from certain toxins, but they cannot replace good storage, testing, and professional veterinary guidance. Safe management comes first.

Protecting animals from mouldy feed protects livelihoods too. Careful feed management, early recognition, and responsible intervention can prevent avoidable deaths and financial losses on farms. Protect the feed, protect the profit.

Best regards,

Abdullah Opeyemi Akande
B.Agric. (FUNAAB)
GAS (NIAS)
M.Sc. Animal Sci. (UI)
RAS (NIAS)
M.Sc. Int’l Business (UU, UK)
Ph.D. in view