Division of Dairy Cattle Nutrition, National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal-132 001, India
*Present Address: ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Tadong, Gangtok-737 102, Sikkim.
Online published on 21 January, 2012.
Twenty male Karan Swiss calves (3 to 4 months) were randomly distributed into 4 equal groups. One group was maintained as control (groupl) and other three groups (2 to 4) were fed aflatoxin at levels of 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 ppm in the DM of their feed consumed for a period of 16 weeks. The average daily weight gains in groups (1 through 4) were 464 g, 413g, 247 g and 197 g indicating reduction in weight gain with increase in levels of aflatoxin feeding. Weekly weight gains were significantly reduced from 3rd week onwards in groups 3 and 4 and from 14th week in group 2, DM intake did not vary significantly among the treatment groups. Regression analysis of growth data revealed that 0.26 ppm aflatoxin could be the safe level exerting no adverse influence on growth. After withdrawal of toxin feeding, calves in group 2 showed recovery to normal growth rate of 464 g per day in 3 week period. Whereas the calves of groups 3 and 4, with average daily gains of only 415 g and 371 g respectively, showed no improvement in growth even 16 weeks after the toxin withdrawal.
