Effect of Dietary Esterified Glucomannan on the Performance of Broiler Chickens During Experimental Aflatoxicosis

Abstract

The amelioration effect of dietary esterified glucomannan (EGM) was studied in experimental aflatoxicosis using broiler chickens. Day-old chicks (n=270) were divided into 6 treatment groups, containing 45 numbers in each and the study was made in triplicates for 6 weeks. A control ration was prepared with conventional feedstuffs and an experimental diet was made from this ration after incorporating aflatoxin (AF) B1 at 300 ppb. From experimental diet, three rations were prepared by mixing EGM at graded levels i.e., 0.025, 0.05 or 0.10%; whereas, the positive control diet had 0.05% EGM. Significantly (P<0.05) higher BW gain was recorded in the control as well as positive control birds as compared to all treated groups. Toxin-alone fed group showed significantly lowest BW. Feeding of EGM could partially improve the BW of toxin fed broilers. The feed consumption in toxin-fed groups were significantly depressed; however, there was partial improvement due to the supplementation of EGM in their diets. The feed efficiency was also inferior in the toxin-alone fed group; however, when EGM was supplemented there was significant (P<0.05), though partial improvement. The cost of feeding per kg live weight was found to be lowest in control group whereas highest in toxin-alone fed group; nevertheless, dietary EGM reduced cost of feeding. The highest performance index was noted in control group whereas the lowest in toxin-alone fed group. Among the various treatments, 0.10 per cent of EGM gave the best results.