when you buy hay be sure it is not moldy, or appear "dusty"-when you open it-or have "black" spots in it.- in the south mold is more of a problem, and rabbits don't like any mold. I loved to feed perennial peanut hay-- it was les money then alfalfa [in the south] and my rabbits liked it better/ and grew better-- but-- just watch out for mold, and discard any "bad" hay [don't feed any to the rabbits]---and--- some feed companys will use moldy hay , and Milo/ corn, to make pellets. -so be careful who you buy feed from, and never use feed with "bugs " in it-- as feed that has sat around long enough to hatch and grow "bugs" is too old , and probly moldy, for rabbits.
-- I learned this the hard way- http://www.micotoxinas.com.br/Boletim44.pdf
Types of mold that can be found in rabbit feed:
Aspergillus (yellow to yellow-green) -- found in corn, forages1, cottonseed, soybean2
and peanuts. Its toxin is carcinogenic, causes hemorrhaging of intestinal tract and
kidneys, reduced feed intake and diarrhea, lung damage, diarrhea, liver cancer and
kidney damage.
Rhizoctonia (brown to black) -- found especially in clover. Its toxin causes salivation,
diarrhea and bloat.
Claviceps (brown to black) -- most common in grasses including wheat, rye and barley.
Its toxin causes tremors and convulsions.
Penicillium (green to green-blue) -- found in corn and small grains2. Its toxins cause
kidney damage, weight loss, reduced feed intake causing hemorrhaging of lung and
brain tissue.
Fusarium (white to pinkish-white) --- found in hays, forages, soybean and cereal
grains2. Its toxins cause feed refusal, acute gastrointestinal illness, immune
suppression, diarrhea, enteritis, weight loss, hemorrhages of the large intestine, shock
and reduced gastric and small intestine flow, necrosis of the GI tract, and death.
1 Alfalfa hay is considered a forage.
2 Rabbit pellets contain wheat middlings, soybean hulls and sometimes corn -- the
"pathway" ingredients for mycotoxin contamination.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mycotoxins are invisible, highly corrosive, deadly poisons which may persist in feed and hay
even when the molds that produced them are no longer present. Mycotoxins are nearly all
cytotoxic, disrupting various cellular structures such as membranes, and interfering with vital
cellular processes such as protein, RNA and DNA synthesis. They destroy organ tissue by
oxidizing protein, impact specific organs, and have immunosuppressive effects. Some of them
produce acute toxicity, evidenced by digestive disorders or dermatitis, but many more are
carcinogenic (capable of causing cancer), resulting in genetic mutations, or causing deformities
in developing embryos. Mycotoxins can have very pervasive, yet subclinical, effects on
animals' health that can easily go unnoticed. By the time the clinical symptoms of mycotoxin
poisoning are observed, significant damage has occurred.
Improper harvesting (putting up wet hay), packaging (in air-tight plastic bags) and storage or
prolonged shipping may enhance the potential for mold growth. Dirty harvesting,
manufacturing/pelleting equipment and storage bins may contribute to mycotoxin
contamination.
-- I learned this the hard way- http://www.micotoxinas.com.br/Boletim44.pdf
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Types of mold that can be found in rabbit feed:
Aspergillus (yellow to yellow-green) -- found in corn, forages1, cottonseed, soybean2
and peanuts. Its toxin is carcinogenic, causes hemorrhaging of intestinal tract and
kidneys, reduced feed intake and diarrhea, lung damage, diarrhea, liver cancer and
kidney damage.
Rhizoctonia (brown to black) -- found especially in clover. Its toxin causes salivation,
diarrhea and bloat.
Claviceps (brown to black) -- most common in grasses including wheat, rye and barley.
Its toxin causes tremors and convulsions.
Penicillium (green to green-blue) -- found in corn and small grains2. Its toxins cause
kidney damage, weight loss, reduced feed intake causing hemorrhaging of lung and
brain tissue.
Fusarium (white to pinkish-white) --- found in hays, forages, soybean and cereal
grains2. Its toxins cause feed refusal, acute gastrointestinal illness, immune
suppression, diarrhea, enteritis, weight loss, hemorrhages of the large intestine, shock
and reduced gastric and small intestine flow, necrosis of the GI tract, and death.
1 Alfalfa hay is considered a forage.
2 Rabbit pellets contain wheat middlings, soybean hulls and sometimes corn -- the
"pathway" ingredients for mycotoxin contamination.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mycotoxins are invisible, highly corrosive, deadly poisons which may persist in feed and hay
even when the molds that produced them are no longer present. Mycotoxins are nearly all
cytotoxic, disrupting various cellular structures such as membranes, and interfering with vital
cellular processes such as protein, RNA and DNA synthesis. They destroy organ tissue by
oxidizing protein, impact specific organs, and have immunosuppressive effects. Some of them
produce acute toxicity, evidenced by digestive disorders or dermatitis, but many more are
carcinogenic (capable of causing cancer), resulting in genetic mutations, or causing deformities
in developing embryos. Mycotoxins can have very pervasive, yet subclinical, effects on
animals' health that can easily go unnoticed. By the time the clinical symptoms of mycotoxin
poisoning are observed, significant damage has occurred.
Improper harvesting (putting up wet hay), packaging (in air-tight plastic bags) and storage or
prolonged shipping may enhance the potential for mold growth. Dirty harvesting,
manufacturing/pelleting equipment and storage bins may contribute to mycotoxin
contamination.
