Effects of Addition of a Mycotoxin Detoxifier in Poultry Feed Containing Different Levels of Aflatoxins on the Performance of Broilers

Effects of addition of a mycotoxin detoxifier in poultry feed were studied in broilers. Aflatoxins were present in the poultry feed as 28 ppb (normal feed), 78 ppb (contaminated feed) and 170 ppb (highly contaminated feed). The mycotoxin detoxifier was used in 3 concentrations i.e. 1, 3 and 5 kg/ton of feed. Aflatoxins reduced the body weight in broiler chicken and treatment of contaminated feed with low level of detoxifier improved the body weight equivalent to that of normal feed. Higher level of detoxifier proved better than lower level addition in alleviating the effects of highly contaminated feed. Addition of detoxifier also resulted in improvement of FCR to the level of normal feed. Antibody levels against Newcastle disease virus on day 28 of age were significantly lower in chicken fed on contaminated feed. Addition of detoxifier in feed improved the antibody levels in chicken. Mortality was highest in groups given contaminated feed throughout the study period of 7 weeks. Significant mortality was also observed in groups given highly contaminated feed for 2 weeks. Mortality in chicken given detoxifier added contaminated feed was lowest and similar to the group given normal feed. The study shows that mycotoxin detoxifier containing oxyquinol, dichloro-thymol and micronized yeast can effectively neutralize the ill-effects of aflatoxins in poultry feed. (Asian-Aust. J. Anim. Sci. 2004. Vol 17, No. 7 : 990-994)