Aflatoxin Contamination of Milk and Dairy Feed with Quality of Feed in Oromia Special Zone Around Finfinne, Ethiopia

Abstract

The study was conducted in Oromia special zone around Finfinne with the objective to asses feed quality, detect and quantify the amount of aflatoxine (AFM1) in raw cow's milk and AFB1 in home-mixed dairy feed. For this purpose, 90 milk and 90 feed samples from dairy farmers were collected. Analysis for AFM1 and AFB1 was conducted by high-performance liquid chromatography. The study discovered that the prevalence of AFM1 in all milk samples, and detection level ranged between 0.02ppb and 0.08ppbL. Overall, 64 (71.1%) out of a total of 90 milk samples contained less than or equal to 0.05 ppb of AFM1. Moreover, 26(28.9%) milk samples exceeded 0.05 ppb. All the feed samples were contaminated with AFB1 minimum 12.67ppb and a maximum of 45.67ppb. Overall, out of a total of 90 feed samples collected, about 66 (73.3%) contained AFB1 at a level less than or equal to 20 ppb. At the same time, 34 (26.7%) of the feed samples contained AFB1 at a level exceeding 20 ppb. Linear regression showed significant associations between the presence of AFB1 in the feed and the levels of contamination in AFM1 in milk. The level of aflatoxin contamination found during this study in milk and feed ought to prompt action to spot appropriate interventions. These results recommend that risk mitigation should focus on reducing aflatoxin contamination in raw materials feed which can ultimately minimize AFM1in milk.

Keywords: Aflatoxin, Feed, Milk, contamination, Home-mixed, dairy and Aspegillus fungi

DOI: 10.7176/FSQM/121-04

Publication date: January 31^st 2023