2017 Volume 67 Issue 2 Pages 85-88
The aim of the study was to determine feed and feed storage factors associated with aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) contamination in bulk milk of dairy farms. The study was conducted from May to July 2016, at all smallholder farms in Mae Wang dairy cooperative, Chiang Mai, Thailand. Data on feed and feed storage factors were collected from the farmers using interviews and observations. For feed, we included type of roughage and physical appearance of concentrated feed, and for feed storage factor, we included storage method of roughages. AFM1 concentration was measured using the Charm® ROSA® MRLAFMQ (aflatoxin M1) Test. Fisher’s exact chi-square test was used to determine the association of feed and feed management factors with AFM1 contamination. From a total of 67 farms, 50 farms were included in the analysis. AFM1 contamination was observed in 46% of the samples. Farms using factory-corn silage had a significantly higher percentage of AFM1 contamination (62.5%) than farms that did not use factory-corn silage (30.8%). AFM1 contamination in farms that used concentrates with cracked pellets was significantly higher (64.3%) than in those that did not (22.7%). For feed storage, roughage stored in piles within the barn was associated with significantly higher AFM1 contamination than that stored outside (61.5% and 29.2%, respectively). In addition, AFM1 contamination for roughage piles with mold on the surface was higher (60%) than that for roughage piles without mold (25%). Our results indicate that type of feed and feed storage factors are associated with AFM1 contamination in bulk milk.
