Abstract
The present study evaluates levels of aflatoxin contamination involving small dairy farms from the in the Northwest region of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The objectives of this trial is: quantify lactating cow diet and raw for bulk milk Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) contamination; evaluate the use of a mycotoxin adsorbent on cows submitted to semi-confinement raising; and verify the presence of AFM1 contamination on UHT and powdered milk commercialized locally. For this, 17 farms were selected. During the experimental period, every lactating cow on each herd received 50 g/day of a commercial mycotoxin adsorbent for dairy cows (100% bentonite). From each farm, bulk milk, corn silage and concentrate samples were collected for aflatoxin quantification. Aflatoxin M1 was detected in all milk samples examined from each farm, but the levels were within the allowed by the legislation. Aflatoxin B1 was also detected in all samples of corn silage and concentrate. The mycotoxin adsorbent used reduced (p < 0.05) AFM1 contamination in milk. AFM1 milk contamination levels observed on commercialized milk also respected Brazilian requirements. It is possible to conclude that there is a high incidence of Aflatoxin B1 contamination on corn silage and dairy cows concentrates in family farms from South Brazil region. Based on the condition in which the present study was conducted, the use of a mycotoxin adsorbent reduced the levels of AFM in milk in production system. However, the locally produced milk and commercial milk were below the AFM levels accepted by the National Requirements for AFM1 contamination.
Highlights
Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites with low molecular weight produced by a wide range of filamentous fungi present in many animal feeds, including bulky and concentrated food (Bhatnagar et al, 2002; Gallo et al, 2015)
When considering the 17 samples of concentrate and silage destined to the consumption of dairy cattle in the region of Corede Alto Jacuí, in all of them it was possible to detect the presence of Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) (Figure 1)
The analysis of aflatoxin level results should be based on the current Brazilian legislation, since the maximum permitted aflatoxin limit on grains varies according to the legislation of each country
Summary
Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites with low molecular weight produced by a wide range of filamentous fungi present in many animal feeds, including bulky and concentrated food (Bhatnagar et al, 2002; Gallo et al, 2015). Of these, those that have the greatest negative effect on dairy farming include aflatoxin, ochratoxin, vomitoxin, deoxynivalenol, zearalenone and fumonisin (Fink-Gremmels, 2008). When fed AFB1-contaminated foods, they are biotransformed metabolically in the hydroxylated form aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) by the enzyme cytochrome P and are excreted in the milk of lactating animals (Kuilman et al, 2000; Wu et al, 2009)
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