Dietary supplementation of Spirulina and its effects on broiler chicken exposed to aflatoxicosis*

Inclusion of Spirulina platensis in broiler ration to counter aflatoxin in chicken was studied. Four experimental diets containing no supplement (control), Spirulina (0.05%), aflatoxin (300 ppb B₁) and aflatoxin (300 ppb B₁) plus Spirulina (0.05%) were prepared and fed to a total of 120 broiler chicken from 8 to 42 d of age. Response of the chicks was assessed in terms of performance traits, slaughter yields, immune competence and bone mineralisation. Dietary contamination of aflatoxin showed depressing effects on body weight gain, feed intake and the serum concentration of proteins and cholesterol at 42 d. An increase in the weight of liver and kidney were also seen with aflatoxin. Dietary supplementation of Spirulina at 0.05% level partially alleviated the negative affects of aflatoxin on body weight gain and weights of thymus and spleen while no such beneficial effects were seen on any of the other parameters studied. It is concluded that dietary inclusion of Spirulina at 0.05% level could partially offset adverse effects of 300 ppb aflatoxin on growth rate and lymphoid organ weight in broiler chicken.