Determination of natural adverse factors (aflatoxins, nitrate, nitrite, tannin and sodium chloride) in some cage bird feeds

This study was carried out to determine the levels of aflatoxins, nitrate, nitrite, tannin and sodium chloride in some cage bird feeds sold in Ankara, Turkey. A total of 60 feed samples (20 each of budgerigar, canary and parrot feed) were analysed. Aflatoxin analyses by HPLC, nitrate, nitrite and tannin analyses spectrophotometrically and sodium chloride analyses by a method based on colour reaction were performed. Total aflatoxin was found to be 2.44-34.30 ppb in 11 budgerigar feeds, 0.91-16.75 ppb in 8 canary feeds and 1.43-19.29 ppb in 10 parrot feeds. Nitrite (0.00-6.19 ppm), nitrate (1.31-25.55 ppm), tannin (0.04-0.74%), and sodium chloride (0.05-0.44%) were found in all feeds. As a result, it was concluded that the amount of AFB1 in only 1 budgerigar feed might pose a risk to the health of cage birds, while the amounts of nitrate, nitrite, tannin and sodium chloride might not cause any health problems.