Amelioration of Aflatoxicosis in Coloured Broiler Chickens by Dietary Butylated Hydroxytoluene

The effect of butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) on aflatoxicosis in coloured broiler chickens was investigated at two levels (1000 and 2000 ppm) in diet containing 1.0 ppm total aflatoxin (AF: 76.45% AFB₁, 10.52% AFB₂, 9.89% AFG₁ and 3.14% AFG₂). A total of 144 day-old broiler chicks were divided into six treatment groups (T₁ control, T₂ 1.0 ppm AF, T₃ 1000 ppm BHT, T₄ 2000 ppm BHT, T₅ 1.0 ppm AF+1000 ppm BHT, and T₆ 1.0 ppm AF+2000 ppm BHT). Each diet was fed to four replicated groups of 8 birds each from day 1 to 42 days of age. Significant (P<0.05) reduction in BW gain was recorded in T₂, T₅ and T₆ as compared to control, and the depression in BW gain was evident from 2^nd week of age. There was significant (P<0.05) improvement of BW gain on supplementation of BHT in diet with AF. Feed consumption in T₂ was significantly (P<0.05) less compared to T₁, whereas it improved partially in T₅ and T₆. Aflatoxin treatment also deteriorated the feed efficiency, however, significant (P<0.05) improvement in feed efficiency was observed in T₅ and T₆. The serum protein concentration in T₂ was the lowest as compared to other treatment groups. Cholesterol content in T₁ was significantly (P<0.05) higher than that of T₂ and comparable to other dietary treatments. Uric acid content did not differ significantly (P<0.05) among various treatment groups. The BHT treatment significantly (P<0.05) improved the serum and cholesterol concentration over AF treatment. The aspartateand alanine- aminotransferase activities in T₁ were significantly (P<0.05) lower than that of T₂ and remained almost comparable to T₃, T₄, T₅ and T₆. The results showed that BHT inclusion in the diet at 1000 and 2000 ppm provided moderate protection against the adverse effects of aflatoxicosis in terms of investigated parameters.