Effect of Sodium Bentonite and Activated Charcoal on Nutrient Utillzation in Goats Receiving Diets Added with Aflatoxin B₁

A metabolism trial was conducted on 18 male goat kids receiving diets added with aflatoxin B₁(AFB₁) (8–10 m; 15.6±0.5kg B.W.) to find out the effect of supplementing sodium bentonite (NaB) and activated charcoal (AC) on nutrient utilization. Three of kids were representing in each of six treatment groups i.e., T₁ (green maize+concentrate mixture), T₂ (green maize+concentrate mixture supplemented with sodium bentonite (NaB) @ 2 kg per 100 kg concentrate), T₃ (green maize+concentrate mixture supplemented with activated charcoal (AC) @ 2 kg per 100 kg), T₄ (T₁+AFB₁@ 300 ppb), T₅ (T2+AFB₁ @ 300 ppb), T₆ (T₃+AFB₁ @ 300 ppb). Intake of DM, CP, DCP, TDN (g/day) and water (1/day) was similar statistically in all treatments with numerically higher values in AC supplemented groups (T₃ and T₆). The digestibilities of DM, OM, EE and CF were also similar in all the six treatment groups. NaB supplementation (T₂) and AF administration (T₄, T₅, T₆) resulted in lowered CP digestibility (P<0.01) which was not influenced even by supplementation with NaB or AC. NaB or AC supplementation (T₂ and T₃) resulted in lower NFE digestibility as compared to T₁, Similarly, AF administration also resulted in lower NFE digestibility as compared to T₁, AF administration (T₄,T₅, T₆) and NaB supplementation (T₂) caused reduction in TDN of the ration (P<0.05). The efficiency of utilization of absorbed-N was significantly (P<0.05) improved by NaB supplementation (83.0±1.7 in T versus 74.1±2.3 in T). The N-Balance was similar in all treatment groups. The results indicated that digestibility of CP was negatively influenced by the addition of either AFB₁ or NaB alone or in combination where as NFE digestibility was influenced by the addition of either of the adsorbents and/or AFB₁. It is concluded that addition of AFB₁, reduces the nutrient digestibility whereas addition Nab contract the negative effect of AFB₁.