Effect Of Aflatoxin B₁ Contaminated Rations on Milk Yield and Aflatoxin M₁ Secretion in Milk of Indian Cows

Effect of dietary levels (12.50, 25.00, 52.53, 77.90 and 108.45 µ/kg) of aflatoxin (AF) B₁ through contaminated rations on secretion of aflatoxin M₁ content in milk was studied. Aflatoxin M₁ content in milk was increased significantly (P<0.05) with the increasing concentration of AF B₁ in the feed, which reduced on withdrawal of the AFB₁ contaminated feed from the diet. The concentration of the toxin in the milk crossed the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) limit (0.5 µg/1) on the 3rd day and the 6th days of feeding 77.90 and 108.45 µg AF B₁ per kg ration to the cows. In view of variabilities encountered in carryover of AF B₁ from feed to milk, under Indian conditions an upper limit for AF B₁ content of 50 µg per kg cattle feed may be suggested.