Occurrence and seasonal variation of aflatoxin in dairy cow feed with estimation of aflatoxin<i>M</i>₁in milk from Iran

Abstract

The aims of the present study were to investigate the occurrence of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), aflatoxin B2 (AFB2), aflatoxin G1 (AFG1) and aflatoxin G2 (AFG2) in dairy cow feedstuff samples collected from four west provinces in Iran and estimate the corresponding concentrations of aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) in milk during winter and summer in 2014. A total of 160 feed samples consisting of corn silage (n = 40), alfalfa hay (n = 40), straw (n = 40) and barley (n = 40) were analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography with a fluorescence detector method. AFB1, AFB2, AFG1 and AFG2 were detected in 82.5%, 69.37%, 43.12% and 41.87% of the feed samples, respectively. The concentration of AFB1 in 65% (26/40) and 10% (4/40) of corn silage and straw samples was higher than the European Union limit, respectively. Estimation of the total corresponding concentration of AFM1 in milk was evaluated as 20.16 and 35.68 ng/l during summer and winter, respectively.