Avoid Moldy Corn in Horse Feed

Farmers across the Midwest struggled last year to harvest their crops in what turned out to be an unseasonably wet autumn. These conditions led to reports of widespread mold in this year’s corn crop. Moldy corn is a hazard for all species o

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Farmers across the Midwest struggled last year to harvest their crops in what turned out to be an unseasonably wet autumn. These conditions led to reports of widespread mold in this year’s corn crop. Moldy corn is a hazard for all species of livestock, but horses are particularly sensitive to certain toxins produced in moldy corn.

Fumonisin is a toxic substance produced by at least two species of fungus-Fusarium verticillioides (an older synonym is moniliforme) and Fusarium proliferatum-that grow on corn. Unlike some fungus or mold species that cause problems in stored grain, fusarium grows on corn plants before they are harvested. Stress from weather or insect damage can make plants more susceptible. In wet growing seasons or areas with high humidity, close to 100% of the plants may be affected.

The effects of fumonisin contamination are considerably more hazardous to horses than other livestock. When fed corn contaminated with fumonisins for a period of several days to a few weeks, horses are at risk for the neurologic syndrome equine leukoencephalomalacia (ELEM), also known as blind staggers or moldy corn poisoning.

The first sign of ELEM is reduced feed intake, which is typically followed by a battery of neurologic signs: disorientation, head pressing, ataxia, hyperexcitability, blindness, and depression, among others. Once neurologic signs are expressed, ELEM is generally fatal

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