Effect of feeding calcium propionate supplemented cotton seed cake on milk yield, milk composition and aflatoxin concentration in lactating buffaloes

The objective of the current study was to reduce aflatoxin in a cotton seed cake (csc)-based diet and to decrease M-1 level in milk by treating it with increasing levels of calcium propionate. Sixteen multiparous Nili-Ravi buffaloes were allocated to one of four treatments in a replicated 4 x 4 Latin square design. The treatments were calcium propionate treatment on csc at 0, 0.25, 0.50 and 0.75%. The duration of each period was 20 days. The level of aflatoxin was 100 ug/kg aflatoxin B-1 (AFB(1)) in the control diet. Calcium propionate application decreased the concentration of aflatoxin M-1, and the treatments were 1.63, 0.83, 0.29 and 0.44 ug/kg in 0.25, 0.50 and 0.75%, respectively. Milk yield and milk composition were not affected across the whole range of treatment. In conclusion, oral intake of calcium propionate reduced the AF transfer from feed to milk without changing milk yield and composition.