Effect of chemical- and toxin binder-treated cotton seed cake on milk production, milk composition, and aflatoxin concentration in milk of Nili Ravi lactating buffaloes

Twelve multiparous Nili Ravi buffaloes were assigned to 1 of 3 treatments in a randomized, replicated 3 x 3 Latin square design to evaluate the effect of chemical (calcium propionate)- and toxin binder (sodium bentonite)-treated cotton seed cake (CSC) on milk yield and transfer of milk toxin (M-1). Periods (20 days) were allocated for each treatment. In the 1st treatment (control), CSC with 100 mu g/kg of aflatoxin B-1 (AFB(1)) was fed to buffaloes. The 2nd and 3rd treatments were 0.5% calcium-propionate-treated CSC and 1.0% sodium-bentonite-treated CSC, respectively. Each group had 4 multiparous buffaloes. The buffaloes given 0.5% calcium propionate CSC had less M 1 (0.29 mu g/kg) in milk compared to the 1.0% sodium bentonite (0.30 mu g/kg) treatment group. All treatments had an insignificant effect (P > 0.05) on CSC intake (4.62 kg), milk production (7.0 L per day), and milk composition. To conclude, oral intake of calcium propionate reduced the transfer of aflatoxin from rumen to milk.