CONTRIBUTION OF RAW MATERIALS ON DAIRY CATTLE FEEDSTUFF AFLATOXIN CONTAMINATION IN CENTRALARGENTINA

VERÓNICA ANDREA ALONSO; MARÍA DEL PILAR MONGE; ANA MARÍA DALCERO; KELLYMOURA KELLER; CARLOS ALBERTO DA ROCHA ROSA; LILIA RENÉE CAVAGLIERI ; STELLA MARIS CHIACCHIERA

REVISTA BRASILEIRA DE MEDICINA VETERINARIA

SOC MEDICINA VETERINARIA ESTADO RIO DE JANEIRO

Año: 2009 vol. 31 p. 92 - 99

0100-2430

The aims of this study were to determine the mycobiota present in raw materials and cow feed and to determine the ability to produce aflatoxin B1 by A. flavus and A. parasiticus strains. Moreover, the AFB1 presence in raw materials and their contribution to finished feed AFB1 contamination was evaluated. A total of 220 samples (corn silage, corn grains, cotton seed, finished feed) were collected from main milk production zone in Argentina. Yeasts and filamentous fungi counts were above the limit to ensure the hygienic quality. Aspergillus flavus was the prevalent Aspergillus species. Cotton seed and corn grains were the main A. flavus contributors to the final feed contamination, whereas corn silage and cotton seed grains were the main AFB1 contributors All cottonseed samples were contaminated by A. flavus able to produce AFB1. All kind of samples (except brewer?s grains) were positive for AFB1 contamination. This study demonstrates the presence of aflatoxin B1 in raw materials and finished dairy cattle feed in central Argentina and a high frequency of strains able to produce AFB1 if storage environmental conditions are not adequate. Cotton seed is a highly risky raw material. This manuscript makes a contribution to the knowledge of AFB1 contamination in Argentinean farms.