Estimation of ochratoxin A in poultry feed and its ingredients with special reference to temperature conditions

Abstract

ABSTRACT1. The present study was designed to analyse ochratoxin A (OTA) in poultry feed samples (mixed types) along with different poultry feed ingredients collected from different farms and market of Lahore, Pakistan.2. The whole year (2012–2013) was divided into three sub-periods depending upon environmental conditions, that is, July–October (hot and humid), November–February (winter) and March–June (moderate). During each sub-period 120 samples were collected for each feed and each ingredient constituting a total of 840 samples (120x7 of feed and feed ingredients in each sub-period).3. The results of this study indicated that the incidence of OTA-positive samples was highest in July–October followed by that during March–June while the incidence was minimum during November–February. Similarly, the largest number of samples was below the maximum tolerable level (MTL) during November–February followed by March–June while the least number of samples was below MTL during hot weather (July–October).4. This is the first elaborative study regarding the levels of OTA in poultry feed and its ingredients collected from Lahore, Pakistan.