Effect of supplementing lactating goats fed on aflatoxin contaminated feed with calcium bentonite and activated charcoal on aflatoxin M1 concentration, excretion and carryover in milk

Abstract

Aflatoxin is a collective term for a group of toxic and carcinogenic secondary metabolites produced by some strains of Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus during growth, on feeds and foods. The fungal spores are found worldwide, in air and soil, and infest both living and dead plants and animals. An experiment was conducted to investigate the concentration, total excretion and carry-over of Aflatoxin B₁ (AFB₁ ) into milk as Aflatoxin M₁ . Nine crossbred lactating goats were divided into three groups of three each, based on the level of milk production. Commercial Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1 ) was administered to all groups at a rate of 100 ppb in the diet. Group I served as control (T₁ ). In group II (T₂ ), calcium bentonite (CaB) and in group III (T₃ ), activated charcoal (AC), were added at the rate of 1% of Dry Matter Intake (DMI). Dry matter intake was not significantly different (P>0.05) among T₁ (1.22), T₂ (1.14) and T₃ (1.13). Daily milk yield was also not significantly different (P>0.05) among treatments T₁ (0.91), T₂ (0.86) and T₃ (1.03) during the experimental period of 14 days. The AFM₁ concentration, excretion and carry-over of AFB₁ in T₁ continued to increase with time, whereas, the same was seen to decline in the adsorbent fed groups T₂ and T₃ . The results suggest that supplementation of CaB or AC at 1% of DMI for lactating goats result in a reduction in AFM₁ content in milk and carryover of aflatoxin from feed to milk without causing any change in composition of milk.