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

Abstract

Twelve multiparous Nili Ravi buffaloes were assigned to 1 of 3 treatments in a randomized, replicated 3 × 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 (M1). Periods (20 days) were allocated for each treatment. In the 1st treatment (control), CSC with 100 µg/kg of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) 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 M1 (0.29 µg/kg) in milk compared to the 1.0% sodium bentonite (0.30 µg/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.