
64: How DON Mycotoxin Slows the Rumen and Erodes Dairy Performance
From Ruminate This | Agrarian Solutions by Scott Zehr
January 12, 2026 · 34 min · Season 2 · Episode 64
About this episode
Scott Zehr discusses the impact of DON mycotoxin on dairy performance with Dr. Larry Roth.
In this episode of Ruminate This, Scott Zehr is joined by Dr. Larry Roth (VP of Nutrition, Agrarian Solutions) for a discussion about DON (deoxynivalenol/vomitoxin)—one of the most common and most misunderstood mycotoxins in dairy rations. Rather than causing an obvious crash every time, DON often works like a “pause button” on rumen microbes. It doesn’t necessarily kill bacteria, it slows microbial function and disrupts fermentation, reducing the cow’s ability to convert the TMR into energy ...
People in this episode
Host: Scott Zehr
Guest: Dr. Larry Roth
Topics covered
- mycotoxins
- dairy performance
- rumen function
- nutrition
- fermentation
Keywords
- DON
- mycotoxin
- dairy rations
- rumen microbes
- fermentation
- nutrition
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Agrarian Solutions
Products: DON (deoxynivalenol/vomitoxin)
More episodes of Ruminate This | Agrarian Solutions
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- 73: Heat Stress and Inflammation in Dairy Cows · May 25, 2026 · 29 min
- [Bonus Interview] The Dairy Podcast Show - Dr. Larry Roth: Mycotoxins and Dairy Gut Health · May 19, 2026 · 30 min
- 72: Heat Stress in Dairy Cows Isn’t Just the Problem. It’s the Multiplier · May 11, 2026 · 18 min
- 71: Forage Quality ROI: Stop Losing Money in the Bunk · April 27, 2026 · 45 min
- 70: Forage Quality Decisions That Drive Dairy Profitability · April 13, 2026 · 42 min
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