Effect of varying levels of dietary aflatoxin on the performance of broiler chicken

The effect of dietary aflatoxin on the performance of broiler chicken was studied from 0 to 6 weeks of age. Day-old commercial broiler chicks (n=210) were divided into seven treatment groups (T₁ to T₇), each group replicated thrice and each replication consisted of ten chicks. These treatment groups were given seven experimental diets viz., basal diet (T₁), basal diet contaminated with different levels of aflatoxin at 50 ppb (T), 100 ppb (T), 150 ppb (T), 200 ppb (T), 250 ppb (T) and 300 ppb (T). The body weight gain showed decreasing trend with the increase in aflatoxin content from 0 to 300 ppb, as it was highest in control (T₁) and lowest in T₇, however the differences among different treatments were non-significant. No significant differences with regard to feed consumption and feed conversion ratio were reported among different treatment groups. Serum biochemical parameters such as protein, cholesterol and uric acid did not differ significantly due to different levels of dietary aflatoxin. Based on the results it can be concluded that the broiler chicken can tolerate up to 300 ppb dietary aflatoxin.