Abstract
Aim: To evaluate the effect of different levels of High Bentonite on growth performance, organ weight and serum biochemistry in broiler fed on diets containing aflatoxin. Materials and Methods: A total of 360 day-old commercial broiler chicks were divided at random into 8 dietary treatment groups of 42 chicks each having 3 replicates. Dietary levels of aflatoxin (0.5 ppm) and High-grade bentonite (0.5, 0.75 and 1.00%) were tested in a completely randomized design manner, forming a total of 8 dietary treatments each with three replicates. Body weight and feed intake were recorded weekly. At 5 wk, six birds from each treatment were sacrificed and liver, kidney, gizzard, pancreas, spleen, bursa of Fabricius and thymus were extracted and weighed. The serum samples were analyzed for total proteins, uric acid, serum albumin, serum globulin and the activities of gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT), alanine amino transferase (ALT) and for antibody titers against Newcastle disease (ND) and infectious bursal disease (IBD) using ELISA technique. Results: A significant (P<0.05) decrease in body weight, feed consumption, relative weights of bursa, thymus, serum protein, anti body titers against NDV and IBDV, and increase in FCR, mortality, relative weight of liver, kidney, and the activity of Gamma Glutamyl Transferase (GGT) was observed. However, the relative weights of gizzard, pancreas, spleen, serum albumin, uric acid and the activity of Alanine Amino Transferase (ALT) were not influenced by inclusion of AF or HGB. Conclusion: The addition of HGB restored the harmful effects of AF on body weight, feed consumption, FCR, mortality, relative weight of liver, kidney, serum protein, IBDV and NDV. Supplementation of high grade bentonite at 1.0 per cent level was found to be beneficial in ameliorating the adverse effects of aflatoxin (AF) in broiler chickens.
Highlights
Cereal grains and associated by-products constitute important sources of energy for poultry
Aflatoxin ingestion leads to “Aflatoxicosis” syndrome that is characterized by retardation in growth, decreased feed consumption and feed conversion efficiency, immunosuppression and the increase of mortality [2]
Growth performance: Birds fed on aflatoxin doi:10.5455/vetworld.2013.313-317
Summary
Cereal grains and associated by-products constitute important sources of energy for poultry. There is increasing evidence that global supplies of cereal grains for animal feedstuffs are frequently contaminated with mycotoxins. It is estimated that as much as 25 percent of the world's cereals are contaminated with known mycotoxins [1]. Aflatoxin ingestion leads to “Aflatoxicosis” syndrome that is characterized by retardation in growth, decreased feed consumption and feed conversion efficiency, immunosuppression and the increase of mortality [2].
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