Insight: the hidden risk in feed during the rainy season

In the rainy season, the least visible enemy of feed raw materials is mould, and above all the toxins some moulds produce, such as aflatoxins. They can harm animal health and farm performance long before any damage can be seen.

How it happens

Moulds such as Aspergillus flavus grow well on farm produce that is warm and damp, which describes much of the rainy season in Southeast Asia. Grain that is harvested wet, dried too slowly, or stored where air cannot move is most at risk.

How to keep it out

• Dry grain quickly and fully after harvest.
• Keep storage clean, dry and ventilated, and keep bags off the floor and away from walls.
• Buy from suppliers who record moisture and lot, so a problem can be traced and stopped at its source.
• Use older stock first, so nothing sits long enough to spoil.

First published on the Pongpetch Facebook page.