Nutrient Composition and Mycotoxin Residues in the Hay Stored as Stack Forms During the Storage Period, and Aflatoxin M1 in the Milk of the Cows Fed by Them

Abstract

Summary The objectives of the study were to determine nutrient composition and mycotoxin contamination of the pasture samples at harvesting time and their hay forms which were dried in ground and stored as stacks form during the storage period, and to reveal the aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) residues in the milk samples of the cows fed by these hay samples. Ten pasture grass and their hay samples stored as stack form were obtained from 10 different pasture areas and family farms in Kars district, respectively. Upon taking the hay samples from both the inner and outer parts of the stacks, they were analyzed for dry matter (DM), crude ash (CA), organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP), crude fiber (CF), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), ether extract (EE), nitrogen free extract (NFE) and total aflatoxin, aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), and zearalanone residues in harvesting time, and then 6 times with 45 days of interval during the storage period. The concentrations of DM, CA, OM, CP, CF, NDF, ADF, EE and NFE of pasture at harvesting time were found to be 307.9, 93.3, 906.7, 118.0, 313.2, 509.7, 351.3, 29.1 and 446.4 g/kg DM basis, respectively. Total aflatoxin, AFB1 and zearalenone residues were determined in all the fresh grass samples examined at average 24.10, 15.21 and 14.97 ppb, but they were within the acceptable limits. During the storage period of the hay; DM content fluctuated, CA, OM and NDF contents unchanged, CF content increased, CP decreased in the inner part, and ADF contents increased in the inner part at the beginning of the storage, as compared with at the end of the storage period. During the storage period, mycotoxin residues were also within the acceptable limit except for the total aflatoxin and AFB1 levels in the 4 th period samples. Except for the one milk sample, AFM1 residues were within the acceptable limit. It is concluded that, depending on the longer storage period, generally nutrient composition of the hay unchanged substantially, mycotoxin residues also unchanged and generally not exceed the acceptable limits.