Centre for Advanced Studies in Poultry Science, Veterinary College and Research Institute, Namakkal - 637 001 (T.N.).
*Corresponding author: AICRP on Poultry, KAU, Mannuthy, Thrissur (Kerala); e mail - drchurchil@yahoo.com.
1Avian Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, TANUVAS, Namakkal - 637 001.
An experiment was conducted to study the effect of yeast culture containing live cells of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (SC) in ameliorating the toxicity of aflatoxin B1 (1 ppm) in broilers. Feeding of aflatoxin caused significant (P<0.05) reduction in weight gain, lower feed consumption and inferior feed efficiency than control at eight weeks of age. Aflatoxin caused significant (P<0.05) reduction in immunity against Ranikhet and infectious bursal diseases and serum biochemical values of total proteins, albumin, cholesterol and glucose. The relative weights of liver, kidney, proventriculus, spleen, thymus and bursa of Fabricius were altered significantly (P<0.05) by aflatoxin feeding. The eviscerated carcass yield in aflatoxin treated birds was significantly (P<0.05) lower than that of control. Supplementation of SC (0.1 and 0. 2 per cent) to the aflatoxin containing diet significantly (P<0.05) alleviated the ill effects of aflatoxin on weight gain at eight weeks of age. Feed consumption and efficiency from first to eight weeks of age also showed improvement. SC supplementation at both the levels was significantly (P<0.05) effective in ameliorating the toxic effects of aflatoxin on immunity, whereas, 0.2 per cent supplementation restored the serum total proteins, albumin and glucose levels. Serum cholesterol level was significantly (P<0.05) improved by both the levels of SC supplementation. The increased relative weight of the kidney during aflatoxicosis was restored to normal by both the levels, while that of the liver was restored only by 0.2 per cent SC. The toxicity of aflatoxin on lymphoid organs like thymus, bursa of Fabricius and spleen was significantly (P<0.05) counteracted by 0.2 per cent SC supplementation. Both the levels of SC reversed the toxic effects of aflatoxin on eviscerated carcass yield. Addition of SC resulted in milder degree of lesions due to aflatoxin indicating less severe damage to liver and kidneys. From this study, yeast culture supplementation was found to improve the production performance, immunity, serum biochemistry, relative organ yields and eviscerated carcass yield of broilers affected by aflatoxicosis.
Aflatoxicosis, broiler, Saccharomyces cerevisiae
