Determination of Aflatoxin B₁ Levels of the Feedstuffs in Traditional and Semi-industrial Cattle Farms in Amol, Northern Iran

摘要

The study was conducted in order to measure the levels of Aflatoxin B₁ (AFB₁) in feedstuff by ELISA used by some of cattle farms in Amol (northern Iran). Out of 96 samples at 45 traditional and 51 semi-industrial cattle farms ones (concentrated feed, beet pulp and cotton meal) were selected in random basis during 3 different seasons of winter, spring and summer 2009. Out of 45 traditional samples, 20 samples (44.4%) and out of 51 semi-industrial samples, 22 samples (43.1%) showed AFB₁ contamination more than the limit accepted by EU (5 μg kg^-1). The contamination levels in concentrated feed, beet pulp and cotton seed were 58.8, 43.7 and 26.7%, respectively. The contamination level in winter, spring and summer were 56.4, 38.7 and 34.4%, respectively. Feedstuffs should be tested regularly in terms of AFB₁ and if they were contaminated, it would be better not to use them.