Improving Agricultural Sustainability Through Efficient Feeding Management

Abstract

The Maryland dairy industry has been in continuous decline, with smaller, family-owned farms struggling due to economic challenges and the pressures of rapid urbanization. These factors have driven many farms out of business. Feed costs represent the largest expense for these farms and are central to their sustainability. Therefore, minimizing feed waste and maximizing efficiency are crucial to dairy farms’ success, however feeding management still appears to be a challenge. To clarify these challenges, the first study was a needs assessment survey was conducted with all Maryland dairy farms on record (n = 293) to identify gaps where Extension can strengthen dairy feeding management.

The objective of the second study was to characterize contamination in total mixed rations (TMR) and evaluate differences between 2 sampling periods on commercial dairy farms. Samples were collected from 26 dairy farms in Maryland during Fall 2024 and Summer 2025 (52 samples total). Concentrations of DON, ZEA, FUM, and Clostridium perfringens were determined, and samples were evaluated relative to predefined concern thresholds. The effect of sampling period on log-transformed ZEA concentration was assessed using a linear mixed model with farm as a random effect. Overall, 32.7, 5.8, and 40.4% of samples exceeded concern thresholds for DON, ZEA, and FUM, respectively, whereas 5.8% exceeded the threshold for Clostridium perfringens. No samples exceeded the ZEA threshold in Fall 2024, whereas 11.5% exceeded the threshold in Summer 2025. The proportion of samples above thresholds for DON and FUM was also greater in Summer 2025. Across all samples, 15.4% contained 2 or more mycotoxins above concern thresholds, with a greater occurrence in Summer 2025. ZEA concentration was greater in Summer 2025 than in Fall 2024 (P < 0.001). These results indicate that seasonal conditions influence TMR mycotoxin risk and highlight the occurrence of multiple mycotoxins above concern thresholds under commercial dairy conditions, whereas Clostridium perfringens contamination was infrequent.