Effect of dietary aflatoxin on the performance of turkey poults

The effect of dietary aflatoxin on the performance of turkey poults was studied from 0–6 weeks of age. Two hundred and seventy one-day-old turkey poults were divided into nine treatment groups (T₁, to T₉), each group replicated thrice and each replication consisted of ten birds. The treatment groups were given nine experimental diets viz., basal diet as control (T₁), basal diet + 20 ppb aflatoxin (T₂), basal diet +50 ppb aflatoxin (T₃), basal diet + 100 ppb aflatoxin (T₄), basal diet + 200 ppb aflatoxin (T₅) basal diet +300 ppb aflatoxin (T₆), basal diet +400 ppb aflatoxin (T₇), basal diet +500 ppb aflatoxin (T₈) and basal diet +600 ppb aflatoxin (T₉). The overall weight gain (1–6 weeks) was comparable in groups T₁, to T₃ and significantly (p≤0.05) lower in groups T₄ to T₉ than T₁. Feed intake was highest in control group and lowest in T₉ i.e., 600 ppb aflatoxin fed group, significantly (Pd0.05) lower feed intake was recorded in T₄ • to T₉ groups when compared to control. The feed efficiency deteriorated due to aflatoxin contamination in T₈ and T₉ treatment groups. Significantly (P≤0.05) higher mortality occurred in T₇ to T₉ during fourth and fifth weeks, and T₆ to T₉ during sixth week of age. The serum protein and cholesterol contents were significantly (P≤0.05) lower in T₅ to T₉ and T₇ to T₉, respectively. Itis thus concluded that turkey poults can tolerate aflatoxin upto 50 ppb without any adverse effect on their performance.