DNA based approaches for the detection and identification of bovine meat and bone meal in feeds

The aim of this paper was to present the results of comparative evaluation of the usefulness of PCR method for the detection and identification of bovine DNA in feeds. In the validation study, the limit of detection for PCR was determined as 0.05% for bovine meat and bone meal (MBM). Among 132 feed samples, bovine DNA was detected in eight (6.06%) samples. In the next stage of the study, sediment and flotate from the investigated samples were examined with PCR. Out of 132 sediment and flotate samples, bovine DNA was detected in eight (6.06%) and nine (6.82%) samples, respectively. On the basis of the results obtained with the use of the PCR, it is possible to state that the molecular biology methods can, at present, be used as supplementary tools for detection and identification of bovine MBM.