Assessment of aflatoxins awareness in animal feeds and fresh milk among smallholder dairy farmers in Kondoa district, Dodoma Tanzania

Abstract

The occurrence of aflatoxins in animal feeds and milk is a common problem that is affecting both livestock and human being leading to physiological disorders and cancer. Unfortunate, most livestock keepers are not aware of aflatoxins and their contamination in animal feeds, cause, effects, and control measures as most interventions on awareness creation have been involved with agricultural cereal crops. This study was conducted to assess awareness of aflatoxins among smallholder dairy farmers in Kondoa district to determine the effectiveness of an intervention to prevent aflatoxins. The study involved a survey using semi-structured questionnaires to 120 respondents purposively selected depending on having at least one dairy cattle in their herd. The results from this study indicated that the majority of respondents (88.3%) heard of aflatoxins through either village meetings, seminars, radio, television or from friends. About seventy eight (78.7%) of all respondents understand that aflatoxins can potentially contaminate animal feeds while 68.2% understand that aflatoxins can harm both animal health and human and results in liver cancer. Likewise, 63.3% of all respondents understand the possible transmission of aflatoxins to milk. On the other hand, about 55% of participants in this study understand factors and control measures for aflatoxins in animal feeds and milk. It is necessary to improve awareness and public training campaigns to prevent aflatoxins in the food system in many other regions in Tanzania.