Abstract
Poultry feed with contaminated with mycotoxins especially aflatoxin is a major health concern. It directly results in significant economic losses and indirectly affects the health of consumers. District Mansehra (Hazara region) is rich in poultry population due to its favorable climate. No such study has been executed to estimate the Aflatoxin level in poultry feed in this area. So, the current study was conducted to educate the farmers regarding aflatoxin contamination at farm level. In this study, a total of 120 samples were collected from poultry feed supplied in Mansehra. Three different types of poultry feed were assessed viz; starter, grower and finisher feed and samples were collected from poultry farms of District Mansehra from 3 tehsils (Mansehra, Balakot & Ogi) from March to July 2017. Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) was used for screening of Total Aflatoxin (TA) in the samples. Overall, the incidence of positive samples for aflatoxin contamination was 92.5%. The frequency of aflatoxin measured was highest in Tehsil Balakot i.e. 100 %, but higher levels were documented in Tehsil Mansehra viz; 54.6 ppb. Grower feed had the highest frequency of aflatoxin positive samples (100%) as well as aflatoxin levels (56.34 ppb). The moisture content was around 6.8-10.98%. The association between total aflatoxin and moisture content was statistically significant (P<0.05). The results suggest that continuous monitoring regimes are required to be conducted to prevent aflatoxicosis in poultry birds. Keywords: Aflatoxin; Broiler; ELISA; Feed; Humidity; Moisture http://dx.doi.org/10.19045/bspab.2020.90165
Highlights
Introduction value added to Agriculture andLivestockPoultry industry in Pakistan is a vibrant was 12.5% [1]
Aflatoxins are considered as inevitable contaminants of food for which regulatory levels has been set by United States (US) Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
8.3±0.1 In Tehsil Balakot, the mean level of total aflatoxin (TA) recorded in broiler feed samples was highest in finisher feed (67.3±2.97) followed by broiler grower (64.6±2.5) and starter feeds (58.5±2.7) whereas the mean moisture contents of feed samples (Starter, Grower and Finisher) were 9.5±0.16, 9.7±0.2and 9.7±0.2, respectively
Summary
Poultry industry in Pakistan is a vibrant was 12.5% [1]. The demand of poultry eggs segment of livestock sector with an annual and meat is increasing day by day (4% per growth rate 7.5-10% and its contribution in annum). The specific objectives set for the current survey were to conclude the level of aflatoxin in feed used for poultry birds and to study the climatic effect on aflatoxin occurrence and to make a comparison between various commercially available feeds. Detailed study was conducted for Quantitative Estimations of Total Aflatoxin level in poultry feed. The Aflatoxin level in poultry feed was estimated quantitatively in feed supplied in poultry farms of district Mansehra. Samples collection A total of 120 poultry feed samples (n=40 from each tehsil) were obtained at farm level from three tehsils. In Tehsil Ogi, the mean level of total aflatoxin (TA) recorded in broiler feed samples were higher in grower feed (49.5±1.86) followed by broiler finisher (41.4±2.52) and starter feeds (40.11±2.99). The mean moisture levels in feed samples (Starter, Grower and Finisher) from Tehsil Ogi were 7.4±0.27, 8.3±0.27 and 7.39±0.34, respectively
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