Mycotoxins in Dairy Cattle: Occurrence, Toxicity, Prevention and Treatment

• Mycotoxins are prevalent in feedstuffs. • Many different mycotoxins exist. • Mycotoxins affect dairy cattle in many ways, and the most important is perhaps immunosuppression. • While mycotoxins can cause acute toxicity, they are more likely to cause chronic problems of increased disease and decreased milk production. • Diagnosis of a mycotoxicosis is difficult and indirect, but mycotoxins should be considered as a potential cause of increased disease and loss of production. • Contamination of milk by aflatoxin can cause huge economic losses. Management of crops and feeds is important to reduce mycotoxin contamination. Certain feed additives are proved to be helpful in treatment.