Investigation of Ochratoxin A Level in Feed Used in Bovine Feeding in Ardahan Province

Authors : Ertan Doğan

Pages : 9-14

Doi:10.30607/kvj.1295366

View : 57 | Download : 65

Publication Date : 2024-03-31

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :This study\'s objective is to determine the quantity of Ochratoxin A (OTA) in the feed given to cattle in the Ardahan region. The research was carried out on 30 randomly selected bovine farms in the Ardahan region. Cattle farms were visited in February, March, and April 2023. Thirty samples (10 meadow grass, 10 hay and 10 crushed barley) were collected each month, one sample from each farm visited. In all, 90 feed samples were examined for OTA within the three-month period. The amount of OTA in feed samples was determined by using an ELISA kit. The study did not detect OTA in the meadow grass, hay and crushed barley collected in February. In hay samples, 0.19 µg/kg was detected in March, 0.21 µg/kg in April, and in crushed barley 0.20 µg/kg in March and 0.21 µg/kg OTA in April. In this study, the highest amount of OTA was determined in meadow grass (0.28 µg/kg) collected in April. The difference between the average OTA amounts detected in meadow grass in March and April was statistically significant (p<0.05). It was seen that the amount of OTA detected in the meadow grass, hay and crushed barley was below the maximum limit (5.0 µg/kg) set by the Turkish Food Codex Contaminants Regulation. In this study, it was concluded that meadow grass, hay, and crushed barley given to cattle in February, March, and April in Ardahan region contain ochratoxin A at a level that does not pose a risk to animal and human health.
Keywords : Ardahan, Okratoksin A, Sığır, Yem, Mikotoksin