Ruminant Disorders Associated with Pathogens Found within Ensiled Forages

Abstract

Properly ensiled forages and grains are bio-secure when fed to dairy cows.⁷ Silage management is, therefore, important to dairy health and profitability. Veterinarians offering production medicine consultation to dairy producers must be knowledgeable about ensilage. Pathogens are present in silage regardless of how well it is preserved. Problems that may occur include ensiling forages: 1) too wet, resulting in clostridial fermentation and causing reductions in voluntary feed intake, 2) that deteriorate upon extreme aerobic instability, resulting in growth of Listeria monocytogenes, and causing listeriosis, and 3) too dry, producing aerobic instability problems with molds and mycotoxins.