Efficacy of certain adsorbents on carcass traits and livability of broiler chickens fed aflatoxin B₁ contaminated diets

The effect of dietary inclusion of diatomaceous earth (DE), sodium bentonite (SB) and zeolite (Z), alone or in combinations, was investigated in broiler chickens fed aflatoxin B₁ contaminated (300 ppb) diets. A total of 384 day-old broiler chicks were divided into 12 treatment groups (T₁-control; T₂-T₁ + 300 ppb AFB₁; T₃-T₂ + 0.5% DE; T₄-T₂ + 1% DE; T₅-T₂ + 0.5% SB; T₆-T₂ + 1% SB; T₇-T₂ + 0.5% DE +0.5% SB; T₈-T₂ + 0.5% Z; T₉-T₂ + 1% Z; T₁₀-T₂ + 0.5% Z + 0.5% DE; T₁₁-T₂ + 0.5% Z + 0.5% SB; T₁₂-T₁ +[Z+DE+SB (0.33% each)]. The relative weight (per cent of live weight) of liver in control group (T₁) was 2.26 but increased significantly (P<0.05) to 2.83 due to inclusion of aflatoxin in the diet. Administration of DE, SB and zeolite at 0.5 and 1% level in aflatoxin contaminated diet reversed the adverse effect of aflatoxin on liver. A significant (P<0.05) decrease in the relative weight of bursa of Fabricius was also recorded at 300 ppb level of aflatoxin compared to that of control. Addition of adsorbents was partially to completely effective in ameliorating the adverse effects of aflatoxin on bursa of Fabricius. Incorporation of DE, SB and zeolite in aflatoxin contaminated diet significantly reduced the effect of aflatoxin on mortality. The relative weights of spleen, thigh, drumstick, breast, back, neck and wing did not differ significantly among various dietary treatments. It was concluded that diatomaceous earth, sodium bentonite and zeolite either at 0.5 or 1% level individually or in combination in 300 ppb aflatoxin B₁ contaminated feed were effective in ameliorating the adverse effects of aflatoxin on liver and livability percentage in broiler chickens. However, sodium bentonite and zeolite were more effective than diatomaceous earth in ameliorating toxicity.