Effects of Feeding Gibberella zeae-lnfected Corn on Feed Intake, Body Weight Gain, and Milk Production of Dairy Cows

Normal (2% infected kernels) and Gibberella zeae-infected (44%) corn were incorporated into complete mixed feeds and group-fed ad libitum to 54 lactating dairy cows in a three-period Latin square design. Daily intakes of feed dry matter were 2.90, 2.79, and 2.85% of body weight for rations containing normal, G. zeae-infected, and a 50:50 mixture of normal and infected corn. Cows fed rations containing infected corn gained less weight than cows fed normal corn. Fat tests and milk production did not differ. No feed refusal by the cows indicated that they are not as sensitive to the toxins in G. zeae-infected corn as swine.