Influence of sodium bentonite and activated charcoal on aflatoxin M1 excretion in milk of goats

An experiment was conducted to find out the carry-over of aflatoxin B-1 (AFB(1)) in to milk as AFM(1). Nine crossbred (Alpine x Beetal and Saanen x Beetal) lactating goats in early lactation were randomly divided into three groups of three each in a Latin square layout. Pure AFB(1) was administered to all groups at the rate of 100 ppb in the diet. Group I served as control (TI). In group II (T-2) sodium bentonite (NaB), and in group III (T-3), activated charcoal (AC). were added at the rate of 1% of DMI. There was no effect (P > 0.05) of aflatoxin and/or adsorbent on DMI (kg per day) and daily milk yield (kg per day) during the experimental period of 14 days. The AFM(1) concentration (mug/l), excretion (mug per day) and carry-over (%) of AFB(1) in T-1 continued to increase with the passage of time, whereas, the same was seen to decline in the adsorbent fed groups T-2 and T-3;. The percentage reduction of AFM(1) excretion was higher (P < 0.05) in the bentonite (T-2) (66.57 +/- 4.85) and AC (T-3) (75.99 +/- 7.13) groups in comparison to T-1 on the 14th day of the experiment. The percentage reduction of carry-over was higher (P < 0.01) in the bentonite (T-2) (65.26 +/- 3.24) and AC (T-3) (76.09 +/- 6.36) groups in comparison to T-1. There was no effect of adsorbents on milk composition except Zn which was greater (P < 0.05) in T-3 in comparison to T-1 and T-2 Thus, it can be concluded that supplementation of NaB or AC at 1% of DMI for early lactating goats resulted in significant reduction in AFM(1) content of milk and carry over of aflatoxin from feed to milk without causing any change in composition of milk. Milk containing AFM(1) may adversely affect the health of humans when consumed. This study suggests approaches to reducing AFM(1) excretion in the milk of goats receiving feeds contaminated with low levels of AFB(1). (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.