Calcium montmorillonite clay in dairy feed reduces aflatoxin concentrations in milk without interfering with milk quality, composition or yield

Abstract This study was designed to determine if a calcium montmorillonite clay (Novasil Plus, NSP), can significantly reduce aflatoxin M 1 (AFM 1 ) concentrations in milk without affecting dry matter intake (DMI), milk yield, milk composition, vitamin A, or riboflavin concentrations. The study was designed using 15 lactating dairy cows randomly assigned to one of 5 treatment groups in a 5 × 5 Latin square experimental design. The cows were treated with diets containing AFB 1 at 0 or 121 ppb and three different levels of NSP (0.0, 6.0 and 12.1 g/kg) of the diet. Milk samples were collected and analyzed for AFM 1 , milk composition, vitamin A, and riboflavin. In this study, AFM 1 concentrations in milk were significantly reduced by both 6.0 g/kg and 12.1 g/kg NSP treatment levels. The low dose of NSP (6.0 g/kg) resulted in a decrease in the level of AFM 1 in the milk equal to 55%; whereas, the high dose (12.1 g/kg) reduced the level of AFM 1 by 68%; milk composition, vitamin A, and riboflavin concentrations were unaffected by any of the dietary treatments. Additionally, dry matter intake (DMI) and milk yield were not different among treatments.