|
Abstract
|
This experiment was conducted to study the effect of Aflatoxins (AF) on broiler perfor-mance, organ weight, plasma characteristics, protein digestibility, and metabolizable energy of the diets. Dietary treatments were: 1) control diet based on corn and soybean meal; 2, 3 and 4) control diet plus 1 mg kg-1 AF, 1 mg kg-1 AF and 0.25% mycosorb, and 0.25% Mycosorb, respectively. The results in the Aflatoxins and Aflatoxins+ mycosorb treatments showed that dietary AF, significantly decreased the feed intake and weight gain as compared to the control diet (P<0.001). Treatment 2 resulted in inferior feed conversation ratio in comparison to the control diet (p<0.05). Uric acid and total protein in the second and third, and phosphorous only in the third treatment were significantly lower than the control (P<0.05). The in-vivo protein and dry matter digestibility, apparent metaboliz-able energy (AME) and nitrogen corrected-apparent metabolizable energy (AMEn) were not affected by the treatment (P>0.05). Aflatoxin resulted in the proventriculus enlargement, increased liver weight and AF deposition in the liver and breast muscle (P<0.05). This study clearly demonstrated that Mycosorb was effective in alleviating the adverse effects of dietary aflatoxins in broiler chickens.
|