Mycotoxins and their potential impact on rumen health and livestock productivity will be the main topic for discussion at a dairy farm meeting in Dalbeattie, Dumfries and Galloway, on Wednesday 20th January.

Hosted by dairy farmer David Yates at Meikle Firth Head, in association with Harbro, the meeting will include a keynote presentation from Alltech’s Dr Jules Taylor-Pickard, who has worldwide experience of mycotoxins.

“Mycotoxins contamination of feedstuffs is an increasing threat to livestock production, with factors such as changing weather patterns and increases in minimum tillage farming resulting in a greater prevalence of the causative organisms,” she says.

“The effects of mycotoxins in cattle are many and varied, but could include symptoms such as inconsistent milk yields, variable intakes, scouring, poor rumen function, swollen hocks or generally increased disease rates.

“This is a topic that should interest dairy farmers in particular, whatever their feeding regimes and however well they manage their on-farm feed resources. Greater knowledge on the subject is the first step to combating potential problems.”

The meeting at Meikle Firth Head is scheduled to begin at 10.30am and includes a pub lunch. Farmers who would like to register their place should contact Bob Kendal of Alltech on 07885 280691.