Products to alleviate the effects of necrotic enteritis and aflatoxin on growth performance, lesion scores, and mortality in young broilers

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of necrotic enteritis challenge or a necrotic enteritis challenge with an additional challenge from dietary aflatoxin B1 compared to broilers that were unchallenged. Also tested were products designed to help alleviate those effects. Lesion scores were higher in broilers challenged to induce necrotic enteritis, but this did not increase with added aflatoxin. The presence of dietary aflatoxin during a necrotic enteritis challenge significantly increased the negative effects of the necrotic enteritis challenge. During the necrotic enteritis challenge virginiamycin, Calibrin-Z, or a blend of Calibrin-Z, an organic acid, and yucca, helped to decrease the effects of the challenge. When birds are challenged with necrotic enteritis and dietary aflatoxin is present, Calibrin-Z had an advantage over all other tested products.