The effect of aflatoxin levels on milk production, reproduction and lameness in high production Holstein

Abstract

The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of aflatoxin levels in diet on milk production and composition, reproduction problems and indices and lameness in dairy cattle.To determine the levels of total aflatoxin and B₁, B₂, G₁ and G₂ in the feedstuff and M₁ in the milk, samples from two different dairy farms; A, low aflatoxin level (13.01 μg/kg) and B, high aflatoxin level (110.63 μg/kg), were collected and the determination of aflatoxin levels was performed by high performance liquid   chromatography (HPLC). Milk yield and composition were measured during 60 days postpartum. Clinical examination and record data was used to indicate lameness and reproduction problems and indices during 50 to 100 days postpartum. The results showed that increase in the levels of aflatoxin concentration in the feedstuff was responsible for the increase in aflatoxin M1 in milk samples. Also, levels of aflatoxin in diet and milk caused retained placenta which is a reproduction problem. Aflatoxin levels in feed and milk did not significantly increase reproduction indices and milk composition. However, prevalence of lameness was significantly affected by milk aflatoxin level (P ≤ 0.05). It was concluded that there was a significant relationship between aflatoxin levels with lameness and retained placenta.

Keywords: Aflatoxin, diet, milk, reproduction, lameness, dairy cattle