Prevalence of mycotoxins in poultry feeds and feed ingredients in Punjab (Pakistan)

A total of 100 samples, 50 each of layer starter and broiler starter feeds manufactured by 10 different commercial feed mills were collected to assess contamination of aflatoxin B2 and Ochratoxin A in poultry feeds and feed ingredients in Punjab. 440 samples of different poultry feed ingredients including cereal grains and animal and vegetable protein sources were also collected from all over Punjab and were analyzed for Ochratoxin A (OA) content. The mean concentration of aflatoxin B2 in layer and broiler starter rations was observed to range from 10.80 (plus minus 2.16) to 39.20 (plus minus 3.67) mug per kg. Out of 100 feed samples tested, 40 contained higher than the maximum tolerance level of 20 mug per kg aflatoxin B2. Out of the 440, 19.32 percent (n=85) were contaminated with OA. The occurrence of OA was found to be higher in maize (40%), sun flower (30%), wheat (28%), corn gluten (25%) and barley (24%). OA detected in rice, sorghum, peanut meal, soybean meal, guar meal, corn gluten and rice polish was found to be 20 percent. The findings further showed that maize had maximum mean OA concentration of 112.20 (plus minus 22.69) mug per kg, followed by 59.43 (plus minus 22.32) mug per kg in wheat, 50.33 (plus minus 13.79) mug per kg in sunflower meal, 49.20 (plus minus 10.23) mug per kg in peanut meal and 39.14 (plus minus 15.06) mug per kg in rice polishing. Corn gluten meal, sorghum, barley, cotton seed meal and rapeseed meal contained mean OA concentration ranging from 30 to 36 mug per kg. The OA content ranging from 10 to16.67 mug per kg was detected in samples of wheat bran, fish meal, blood meal and meat meal. The aflatoxin B2 and OA contamination of poultry feeds and feed ingredients having deleterious effects seems to pose a serious threat for local poultry farming sector which calls for regular testing and surveillance of poultry feeds and adoption of necessary remedial measures.