Effect Of Dietary Supplementation Of Mycofix® Secure On Milk Production And Its Constituents In Lactating Crossbred Cows

Abstract

A study was conducted to determine the effect of dietary supplementation of sodium bentonite - a mycotoxin binder (Mycofix® secure, Biomin, Singapore) on milk production and milk constituents including somatic cell count and aflatoxin M1 level in lactating crossbred cows. Total ninety cows of three farms were selected and randomly divided into treatment and control group on each farm on the basis of stage of lactation and milk yield. The feeding practices followed, though vary between farms, were common in both the groups. Animals of treatment group received additional sodium bentonite @ 15 g/animal/day for 30 days. There was no significant difference in milk yield, or milk fat, SNF and protein content of milk between two groups on any of the three farms. The somatic cell count (SCC), however, decreased significantly in treatment group on two farms. Among three farms, aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) level also reduced in treatment group on all farms. The result revealed that dietary supplementation of sodium bentonite (Mycofix® secure) was effective in reducing SCC and AFM1 content of milk.