Studying the effects of using the multicomponent toxin binder Bentomax Chitica on milk quantitative and qualitative traits, fertility, and abortion in Holstein cows

Arash Hadavi1, Farooq Kargar2*, Neda Saghi3

• PhD student in Poultry Nutrition, Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran
• PhD student in Poultry Nutrition, Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran
• MSc student in Poultry Nutrition, Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran

Abstract

In order to investigate the effect of using the commercial toxin binder Bentomax Chitika on the quantitative and qualitative traits of milk as well as retained placenta, abortion and lameness in dairy cows, an experiment was designed in which 30 dairy cows were divided into two groups: control and treatment (1 kg/ton of Chitika multicomponent toxin binder). All animals selected in the experiment were in the same conditions in terms of physical, nutritional and health conditions. Milk production was recorded daily. Samples were measured twice a month throughout the experimental period to examine the amount of fat, protein and lactose in milk and the count of somatic cells in milk using a spectrophotometer. At the same time, health status, lameness, and reproductive diseases were recorded monthly. The results showed that adding 1 kg/ton of multicomponent toxin binder to the feed significantly reduced the number of milk somatic cells and increased milk protein. Also, no retained placentas or abortions were observed in the group fed 1 kg/ton of toxin binder throughout the entire experimental period, but in the control group, one retained placenta and three abortions were observed throughout the entire experimental period. According to the results obtained, it can be said that adding 1 kg/ton of multicomponent toxin binder to the diet of dairy cows has positive effects on milk quality traits and reproductive performance.

Introduction

The economic aspects of the livestock industry are very important in terms of providing milk and meat to society, and since millions of tons of milk and meat are provided by cows annually in the country, one of the crises in dairy cattle breeding is abortion, which causes huge losses to this sector of the economy (Xiong, Wang, Nennich, Li, & Liu, 2015). Any abortion in dairy cows means losses and losses for the farmer. For this reason, finding the cause of abortion in dairy cows and preventing these factors can greatly help the farmers’ profitability. Among these factors are genetic abnormalities, heat stress, mycotoxins, and sexually transmitted diseases, the most important of which are mycotoxins and mycotoxins (Rafati, Mehrabani-Yeganeh, & Hanson, 2010; Shabbir et al., 2011). Some species of fungi, when stressed, secrete toxic substances called mycotoxins, which remain in the environment where they are produced. Fungi and molds can form and produce mycotoxins at various stages of plant growth, from the time they are on the ground (before harvest) to harvest, storage, transportation, and feed mills (Bhatti et al., 2017). Mycotoxins are known toxic secondary metabolites produced by certain fungi that grow on food. Mycotoxins have negative effects on host immunity by altering the microflora of the gastrointestinal tract. Among the various mycotoxins, aflatoxins, ochratoxins, T2, zearalenone, and deoxynivalenol are present in most foods in different parts of the world (Schwartz-Zimmermann et al., 2018). The most toxic effect of mycotoxins is damage to body organs, which will cause reduced feed intake, poor conversion rate, reduced production, fertility and reproductive problems. A scientific and cost-effective solution to reduce toxic effects and their transfer into livestock products is to reduce their bioavailability in the gastrointestinal tract. Queiroz et al. (2012) reported that bentonite-based adsorbents are effective in absorbing toxins (Queiroz, Han, Staples, & Adesogan, 2012). Also, fermented products of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (SCFA) have the ability to improve animal performance by modulating the gut microbiome, improving gut morphology and reducing inflammatory responses (Xiao et al., 2016). In an analysis of data from 36 studies, it was shown that SCFA supplementation increased DMI, milk production, fat percentage and milk protein in lactating cows (Poppy et al., 2012). Therefore, yeast cell wall and bentonite compounds reduce the transfer of dietary aflatoxin into the milk of cows and prevent the reduction of milk production by toxins. Ogunade et al. (2016) reported that a combination of sodium bentonite and SCFA improved performance and reduced inflammatory stress in dairy cows (Ogunade et al., 2016). In this study, the effects of using a multicomponent toxin binder on milk quantitative and qualitative traits, fertility and abortion in Holstein cows were investigated.

Materials and Methods

This experiment was conducted at a private dairy farm located in Varamin from 1 October 1400 to 30 December 1401 on 30 adult Holstein cows aged 3 to 4 years. All animals selected in the project were in the same conditions in terms of physical, nutritional and health conditions. The cows were divided into two groups of 15 treated and control heads. The control group was fed the basal diet and the treatment group was fed the basal diet + 1 kg/tonne of Bentomax Chitica. The company claims that Bentomax Chitica multi-component toxin binder contains live yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, yeast cell wall of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, activated carbon, diatomaceous earth and bentonite.

The basal diet was adjusted based on the requirements of dairy cows with a daily milk production of 35 kg according to the NRC 2001 nutritional requirements. Milk production was recorded daily. Samples were sent to the laboratory twice a month throughout the experimental period for the analysis of milk fat, protein and lactose content and the somatic cell count of milk using a spectrophotometer.

At the same time, health status, lameness incidence and reproductive diseases were recorded monthly and entered into Excel software.

Equations and statistical analysis of data

The data obtained were analyzed in a completely randomized design. The GLM procedure of SAS statistical software version 9.1 (2001) was used to analyze the data. Duncan’s multiple range test was used to compare the means at a significance level of 0.05.

The statistical model of this design is as follows:

Yij = µ + Ti + eij

Yij = value of each observation in treatment i in replication j

= µ population mean for the trait of interest

= Ti effect of treatment i

= eij residual effects (experimental error)

Results and Discussion

Table 2 reports the effect of using the multicomponent toxin binder Bentomax Chitica on the quantitative and qualitative traits of milk in Holstein cows. The results showed that the use of the toxin binder had no significant effect on the intake of dry matter, milk yield, milk fat, milk lactose, and non-fat solids. The percentage of milk protein in cows receiving the toxin binder was higher compared to the control group (P<0.05), which was consistent with the results of Jiang et al. (2018). They reported that the addition of yeast cell wall along with sodium bentonite in the diet of dairy cows challenged with aflatoxin B1 significantly increased milk protein production. The number of somatic cells in milk was significantly reduced in the group receiving 1 kg/t feed of the toxin binder Bentomax Chitica compared to the control group. Several previous studies have shown that yeast cell walls can improve rumen fermentation and animal performance under stressful conditions that can affect it, such as heat stress in dairy cows or metabolic stresses during the transition period of dairy cows (Acharya, Pretz, Yoon, Scott, & Casper, 2017). Kutz et al. (2009) reported that the addition of 112 μg aflatoxin per kg of dietary dry matter had no effect on the concentration of milk components in dairy cows (Kutz et al., 2009). Jiang et al. (2018) also reported that the addition of yeast cell walls together with sodium bentonite had no effect on the percentage of fat and lactose in milk in cows challenged with aflatoxin B1 (Jiang et al., 2018).

Table 3 reports the effects of using the multicomponent toxin binder Bentomax Chitica on the frequency of lameness, retained placenta, and abortion in dairy cows in different seasons of the year. The highest rate of lameness was in the winter season and related to cows receiving the control diet. In general, in the winter season, due to the lower quality of the forage and its more difficult maintenance, and on the other hand, winter rainfall and wet bedding can be effective in increasing the frequency of lameness. The group receiving the multicomponent toxin binder did not have retained placenta and abortion during the entire experimental period, but the control group had one abortion in spring, summer, and winter, and there was one retained placenta in winter. The presence of toxins in feed has a negative effect on abortion and retained placenta. Zeralenone toxin causes an estrogen response in cows, which consequently causes abortion and changes in the reproductive organs. In a study conducted by Kallela and Ettala in 1984, cows fed alfalfa containing 10 mg/kg zearalenone experienced premature abortion (Kallela & Ettala, 1984). In another study, cows fed 1.5 mg/kg zearalenone experienced irregular estrous cycles and behavioral estrus in pregnant and sterile cows (Gupta, 2012).

Conclusion

Mycotoxins have negative effects on dairy cattle production. This study showed that during the 13-month experiment, the use of commercial toxin binder Bentomax Chitica significantly reduced the number of somatic cells in milk and increased milk protein. Also, there were no retained placentas or abortions during the entire experiment. According to the results obtained, the use of one kilogram per ton of feed of toxin binder Bentomax Chitica is recommended.

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