The webinar was organised in response to increasing concern within the industry regarding mycotoxin contamination in grass silage, with potential impacts on cow health, fertility and production.
As part of the event, AgriSearch presented findings from its recent Mycotoxin Silage Screening Survey, which examined 43 silage samples from 13 farms across Northern Ireland. The study found that the majority of silages tested had very low or no detectable levels of mycotoxins. However, a small number of samples contained borderline levels, highlighting the need for continued monitoring and awareness at farm level.
Dr Sinclair Mayne, who led the presentation of the AgriSearch study, emphasised that while results were generally reassuring, mycotoxins remain a complex and variable challenge influenced by factors such as weather conditions, plant stress, soil and slurry contamination and silage management practices.
The webinar also featured international perspectives from Professor Rudi Krska and Dr Nick Birse of Queen’s University, who outlined the growing global significance of mycotoxins. Advances in analytical techniques are now detecting a wider range of contaminants, with research suggesting that a high proportion of feed materials may contain multiple mycotoxins at low levels.
Dr Keith Agnew of Food Fortress highlighted the importance of monitoring and risk management within purchased feeds, noting that mycotoxin risk can arise at multiple stages—from crop growth through to storage and feeding—and that mitigation strategies such as ration formulation and the use of binders can play an important role in managing exposure.
Speaking following the webinar, AgriSearch Chair Norman McMordie said:
“There has been growing concern among farmers about the potential impact of mycotoxins in silage and feed. As a farmer-led organisation, AgriSearch has an important role in bringing together evidence, expertise and practical insight to support informed decision-making at farm level.”
“While the findings from the AgriSearch study are broadly reassuring, they also underline the importance of continued monitoring and a proactive approach to managing mycotoxin risk across the industry.”
Jason Rankin, Strategy Manager at AgriSearch, added:
“This work represents an important first step in building an evidence base around mycotoxins in grass silage. While the findings are broadly reassuring, they also highlight the need for further monitoring to better understand the factors influencing mycotoxin occurrence at farm level.”
“AgriSearch is currently considering how this work can be developed further, including exploring, with industry and research partners, potential future monitoring activity to better understand mycotoxin risk across both silage and purchased feeds.”
A recording of the webinar is now available to watch on the AgriSearch YouTube channel https://youtu.be/07FnlksxOMk.
A copy of the report on the AgriSearch Mycotoxin Screening Survey can be found here: https://agrisearch.org/pdfjs/web/viewer.html?file=/download/files/AgriSearchMycotoxinReportFINAL.pdf