Evaluation of the efficacy of test products to ameliorate the toxic effects of aflatoxin present in broiler chick diets

Abstract

An in vivo study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of several adsorbent test products to ameliorate the toxic effects of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) in chicks. Ninety day-old straight run chicks were purchased from a commercial hatchery, weighed, wing-banded, and assigned to floor pens. A completely randomized design was used with 10 chicks (chick was experimental unit) assigned to each of 9 dietary treatments from hatch to 28 days. The aflatoxin used for this study was supplied by Aspergillus parasiticus (NRRL-2999) culture material (815 mg AFB1/kg). The dietary treatments included: 1) basal diet containing no AFB1); 2) basal diet supplemented with 1.5 mg AFB1 /kg diet; 3) As diet 2 plus Product 1; 4) As diet 2 plus Product 2; 5) As diet 2 plus Product 3; 6) As diet 2 plus Product 4; 7) As diet 2 plus Product 5; 8) As diet 2 plus Product 6; and 9) As diet 2 plus Product 7. The addition of Products 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 to AF diets did not prevent the reduction in body weight gain (BWG) due to AFB1. Chicks fed diets containing Products 1 thru 6 all had lower BWG (P >.05) compared with control chicks. Body weight gain of birds fed Product 7 was not significantly different (P > .05) from the birds fed the positive control; however, it was also not significantly different (P >.05) from birds fed AF B1 alone. Relative liver weights were not affected by dietary treatments (P > .05) and averaged 3.06 g/100g body weight across all treatments. Results of this study indicate that none of these products were effective in ameliorating the toxic effects of AFB1.