Nutritionist > Dairy

Aflatoxin
Aflatoxins are of concern in warm and humid climatic conditions. Although aflatoxins are not considered to be a major problem in cold or more temperate regions, caution must be exercised in colder climates when using feedstuffs imported from warm and humid countries.

Aflatoxins act as a DNA intercalating agent leading to cell death or its transformation into a tumour. Due to the transfer of aflatoxin into the milk (transfer of 1.7% of dietary aflatoxin B1 to aflatoxin M1 in milk) most countries have regulated aflatoxin and have set upper legal dietary limits. These limits can be found on the regulations page on this site.

Clinical signs of aflatoxin toxicity include:

• Reduced weight gain
• Reduced milk production
• Decreased feed intake
• Decreased feed conversion efficiency
• Reduce fertility
• Mortalities at very high exposure levels gain
• Liver lesions with congestion and bleeding
• Fatty acid accumulation in the liver, kidney and heart leading to encephalopathies and oedemas.