It might be easy to identify and discard spoiled food in the fridge, but dairy farm feed hygiene isn’t quite as simple. According to John Goeser, a dairy science professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the human eye can’t always visualize feed’s hygienic quality. He says there are four stress points to consider when evaluating the hygiene of feed: fungal, bacterial, nutritional and environmental/management qualities.

Research out of Iowa State has shown that a sick cow may spend four pounds of corn grain energy supporting its immune system. From the importance of quality feed to protect cows’ immune systems in tough winter months, to the ease of mycotoxin contamination in warm months, producers have a responsibility each day to vigilantly evaluate feed quality.

Read more on dairy feed hygiene here.