The efficacy of various additives to reduce the toxicity of aflatoxin B1 in broiler chicks

Summary Three-hundred and twenty 7-day-old Ross 308-strain broiler chickens were fed diets containing 0 or 125 ppb aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) from 7 to 28 days of age. Sodium bentonite (0.5%), yeast (Saccharomyces cervisiae) 0.2%, hydrated sodium calcium aluminosilicate (HSCAS) (0.5%), ammonia (0.5%), formycine (0.1%), and toxiban (0.1%) were added to the basal diet, as fed basis to determine the effects of these additives against aflatoxicosis. Diet free from aflatoxin, and diet containing aflatoxin (negative control group) were considered as comparison groups. Broiler chickens were divided into 32 groups of 10 with similar mean ± SD weight of 90 ± 0.64 g. Each experimental diet was replicated 4 times during 21 days. Body weight gain, daily weight gain, feed conversion ratio, daily and weekly feed intake, relative weight of organs (liver, intestines, heart, proventriculus and gizzard) and total serum protein were recorded. Relative weight of organs in chickens fed with diet containing AFB1 alone were significantly greater (P<0.01) than that of those fed with other diets. Their body weight gain, daily weight gain, total serum protein concentration, however, were significantly lesser (P<0.01) compared with those fed with other diets. Experimental diets decreased the relative weight of organs in chickens fed with diets containing aflatoxin along with any of the experimental diets as compared with the negative control group. The feed conversion ratios were higher in chickens fed with diets containing aflatoxin. On the other hand, chickens receiving various additives in their diets showed an increase in body weight gains, serum total protein concentration and an improvement in the feed conversion ratio when compared with the negative control group (P<0.01). Generally, addition of the above compounds made an improvement against negative effects of AFB1 in broiler chickens. Formycine was recognized to be the best additive in this respect.