BENTONITE IN NUTRITION OF DAIRY CATTLE

Abstract

There are numerous methods for decontamination of animal feed, and a relatively inexpensive method is the application of inorganic adsorbents. Adsorbents from the group of alumosilicates are particularly important, especially bentonite. Inorganic adsorbents are able to detoxify foods contaminated with mycotoxins by their adsorption power, while minimizing the negative effects on the organism. The aim of this study was to examine and determine whether the use of natural bentonite has an effect on adsorption of aflatoxins from food. The influence of daily intake of bentonite at different doses (30 and 50 g / head) on the content of aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) in milk of examined cows was examined. By mycotoxicological analysis of the feed it was determined that maize grains were infested with aflatoxin B1 (1.24 μg/kg) and that this was the cause of the AFM1 metabolite in raw milk of cows. Based on the results obtained, it was concluded that the content of AFM1 in milk of cows consuming food with a daily intake of 30 and 50 g bentonite was significantly reduced.