Outline

1. REGULATIONS ON AFLATOXIN IN LIVESTOCK FEEDS AND Current STATUS OF ANIMAL FEED REGULATION IN Nigeria Joseph Nyager (DVM, MSc)DIRECTOR/CVO FEDERAL DEPARTMENT OF LIVESTOCKFEDERAL MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE & RURAL DEVELOPMENT ABUJA -NIGERIA

2. Outline • Introduction • Major Aflatoxin contaminated feed ingredients • Major risk factors for Nigeria • Aflatoxins in fish, pig and poultry • Previous efforts made on regulation of Aflatoxin in livestock feeds • Status of animal feed regulation in Nigeria • Conclusion

3. Introduction • Nigeria in West Africa. • About 160 million people. • 36 states and 773 LGAs. Africa Nigeria

4. Animal Resources of Nigeria • Nigeria has the largest animal resources in the West African region. • Cattle 17 million • Sheep 33 million • Goats 52 million • Poultry 166 million • Pigs 6.6 million • Camels and Donkey 0.7 million Source: FAOSTAT, 2009 • Agriculture contributes 44% to National GDP - Livestock contributes 25% of the Agricultural GDP

5. Aflatoxins • Aflatoxins are naturally occurring mycotoxins that are produced by different species of Aspergillus, a fungus, the most notable ones being Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasitium • Aflatoxin B1 is known to be the most significant form that causes serious risk to animals and human health

6. Common Aflatoxin contaminated feed sources • Protein sources : • Groundnut cake • Palm kernel meal • Cotton seed cake • Energy sources: • Rice-bran • Wheat • Maize and by-products • Aflatoxin B1 is the most common form of the toxin- found in groundnut, maize and sorghum.

7. Major Risk factors • Tropical and subtropical environmental conditions • Poor feed storage and shipment conditions • lack of regulation in amount of aflatoxin in food and feed • Less attention given to feed quality control • Cultural practices of feed preservation • Low awareness on effects of aflatoxins

8. Aflatoxins in fish • Fish farming is becoming increasingly lucrative and proficient in Nigeria • 45% of the fish consumed in Nigeria are smoked - dried • Studies have confirmed that aflatoxin B concentrations in the sample of smooked fish were between 1.5 – 8.1 μg/kg, Adebayo-Tayo et al., 2008 . • Smoked-dried fish stored for sale in some parts of the country may be heavily contaminated with aflatoxins • An indication that prolonged intake of smoked fish with these metabolites may constitute potential public health hazard

9. Aflatoxin in Pigs • It has been demonstrated that for each mg/kg increase of aflatoxin in the diet of pigs, the growth rate would be depressed by 16 % . • Feeding diets contaminated with aflatoxin increases the risk of vitamin s A and E deficiency in pigs and also depresses the immune system • Dietary aflatoxin B1 concentrations from 70 to 140 mg/kg decreased the rate of weight gain by 5 to 11 %, (Yueming Dersjant-Li.,et al; 2003) • Immune-suppressive effects of aflatoxin in pigs renders them more susceptible to any concurrent diseases - viral influenza and mycoplasma pneumonia and secondary infections . • Cumulatively , a big lose to pig fatteners who are after faster turnovers

10. Aflatoxin in poultry • Poultry -the most affected, as over 60% of poultry feeds sources are susceptible to aflatoxin contamination • Poultry absorb aflatoxin faster but excrete the metabolites slower than other animals • Feeding of aflatoxin contaminated feed to poultry leads to: • Reduced feed intake • Reduced growth rate • Poor feed conversion efficiency • These are key indices in a successful poultry production

11. Aflatoxin in man • Residues of aflatoxin and metabolites in food may lead to: Liver damage, carcinogenic effect s in man, severe tissue and organ damage and can eventually result in death • Food stuff containing aflatoxin levels in excess of 20 ppb is not wholesome for human consumption and animal feeds.

12. Toxin factors • Heat stable – not destroyed by processing . • Invisible, odourless and tasteless . • Toxin passes through the food chain to humans - residues in muscles, kidneys, liver, eggs etc • Reduces feed intake, nutrients in feed and nutrient absorption, altered nutrient metabolism, immuno-suppression and cell death. Abdu, 2012

13. Regulations on Aflatoxin • No specific regulation on Aflatoxin in livestock feeds yet • NLDC in 2012 set up a committee to come up with a comprehensive and all encompassing proposal on regulation and standards of livestock feeds • Committee’s report to be considered and sent to the NCA’s meeting in 2013 • ATA supports the institutionalization and review of regulations that will enhance food safety and international trade.

14. Status of animal feed regulation • Existing legislation is being reviewed to address current challenges in the livestock feed industry • Collaborating organizations and institutions include: • FMA&RD and agencies • SON • Feed industries • Livestock famers

15. Challenges of Aflatoxin in Nigeria • Un-quantified economic consequences: • Trade inhibition • Direct and indirect production losses • Post harvest losses to farmers • Disease burden in both human and animals • Mortality in both human and animals

16. Conclusion • Feeding aflatoxin contaminated materials to animals and aquacultureimpairs: • Feed intake • Efficiency of feed utilization and/or animal health • Moreover, residues of aflatoxins, consumed by animals, can appear in animal products consumed by human • Realistic regulations on control of aflatoxins in animal feeds is crucial and important aspect of food safety.

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