An Investigation into Aflatoxin B1 in Feedstuffs of Traditional Dairy Husbandry in Ahvaz Area

Different kinds of feedstuffs used in traditional dairy farms in Ahvaz area were investigated and aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) contamination in 88 samples including sugarcane bagasse، rice bran، wheat flour، concentrate، straw and green fodder was measured in summer and winter using ELISA. Data showed that a total of 88 samples، AFB1 level in 5 samples (5/68%) were above the maximum tolerate limit accepted by Iranian National standards organization (10 µg/Kg). Of these، 3 samples were related to rice bran with the amount of 67/2، 27/2 and 49/6 µg/Kg AFB1، 1 sample belongs to concentrate mixture (112 µg/Kg) and the last sample was sugarcane bagasse with 15/535 µg/Kg. Statistical analysis showed that although in Ahvaz area the mean of AFB1 level in feeds in summer is slightly higher than winter، the difference was not significant (P>0. 05). In summer، concentrates and sugarcane bagasse are the main source of AFB1 contamination while in winter; rice bran has an important role in feedstuff contamination. Education and provision of recommendations for dairy farmers could be helpful to eliminate or reduce AFB1 in feedstuffs as well as AFM1 in milk production in the region.