National Institute of Animal Nutrition and Physiology, Adugodi, Bangalore-560 030, India
*Reprint reqeust: Dr. N.K.S. Gowda, Tel: +91–80–25711304; Fax: +91–80–25711420; E-mail: nksgowda@yahoo.co.in
A study was conducted to know the efficacy of hydrated sodium calcium alumino silicate (HSCAS), an adsorbent for counteracting the toxic effects of aflatoxin in lambs. Twenty eight lambs of uniform age and body weights were distributed equally under 4 dietary groups and fed on control diet (T 1), with either 1000 ppb of aflatoxin B1 (AF B1: T2), 1000 ppb of AFB1 and 0.5% HSCAS (T3) or 0.5% HSCAS (T4) respectively. The feeding was continued for 105 d; feed intake and body weights were recorded regularly. Blood plasma was analysed at 0, 50 and 100 days for biochemical parameters. The results indicated significantly (P<0.01) reduced feed intake in groups fed AFB1 and AFB1 with 0.5% HSCAS. The body weight gain was also depressed (P<0.05) in lambs fed AFB1 and addition of binder (HSCAS) was not effective in ameliorating the growth depression. The plasma total protein, albumin and urea contents were also significantly (P<0.01) low due to AFB1 feeding. The addition of HSCAS alone (0.5%) did not result in any negative effects and the performance was comparable to control lambs. It is concluded that the binder (HSCAS, 0.5%) did not protect against the adverse effects of 1000 ppb of aflatoxin fed for 105d.
Aflatoxin, Biochemical parameters, HSCAS, Sheep
