EFFECT OF SUPPLEMENTING HIGH AFLATOXIN DIETS WITH TOXIN BINDER OR HERBAL LIVER CONDITIONER ALONE OR IN COMBINATION ON THE PERFORMANCE OF BROILERS

Abstract

Philipp J Vet Anim Sci 2011, 37 (2): 119-130

A five-week feeding trial was conducted to determine the effect of supplementing high aflatoxin diets (HAD) with toxin binder (TB) or herbal liver conditioner (HLC) alone or in combination on the performance of broilers. A total of 400 straight-run day-old broiler chicks (Cobb 500) were randomly distributed to five treatments following a completely randomized design. The dietary treatments were: T1 = basal low aflatoxin diets (LAD); T2 = basal HAD; T3 = basal HAD + 0.05% TB; T4 = basal HAD + 0.05% HLC and; T5 = basal HAD + 0.05% TB and 0.05% HLC. Birds fed HAD showed significantly higher feed consumption compared to those fed LAD. Supplementation of HAD with HLC significantly decreased body weight gain and feed consumption compared to those fed unsupplemented HAD. Combination of TB and HLC significantly reduced the depressing effect of HLC on body weight gain and feed consumption. Feeding HAD supplemented with TB or HLC alone or in combination did not significantly affect the feed efficiency, livability and dressing percentage. HAD adversely affected the normal structures of liver and kidney of broilers compared to those fed LAD. Supplementation of combination of TB and HLC minimized the liver damage but not kidney damage. Supplementation of HAD with TB or combination of TB and HLC improved income over feed and chick cost of broilers compared to unsupplemented HAD. TB supplementation was effective in counteracting the adverse effect of HAD on the performance and profitability of broiler production.