Detection of Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) in the common ingredients of poultry and broiler feed under different seasons

A survey work was conducted to detect the level of AFB1 in the poultry feed viz. pre-broiler starter, broiler starter and broiler finisher and selected feed ingredients like maize, de-oiled rice bran, groundnut oil cake, soybean meal, broken rice and de-oiled sunflower cake that were received and analyzed during the period of one year from 17(th) october 2019 to 16(th) october 2020 at Animal Feed Analytical and Quality Assurance Laboratory, Veterinary College and Research Institute, Namakkal. Among the samples, highest level of contamination was noticed in groundnut oil cake, maize and de-oiled rice bran at a level more than 100 mu g / kg followed by broiler pre starter, broiler starter feed, broiler finisher feed, broken rice and soybean meal during the northeast monsoon, non- monsoon and southwest monsoon period with more number of samples received during southwest monsoon. Hence surveillance is essential at every stage to identify mycotoxins starting from raw material production to production of finished feed storage and before use in the livestock and poultry feed.