The effect of a multi-component toxin binder in aflatoxin B1-contaminated diets on growth performance in different raising periods, carcass traits and immune parameters of broilers

Aflatoxin B1 is the most dangerous form of aflatoxins that could be produced by Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus molds. Contamination of feedstuffs with aflatoxins is problematic during the manufacturing, processing, storage, and transportation stages, and it has adverse effects on the health and productivity of poultry and human health. By using inorganic and organic toxin binders in poultry feed, aflatoxins are not allowed to be absorbed through the animal's digestive system, and it is considered a good solution to reduce their negative effects.

In this research, the effects of adding a multi-component toxin binder to diets containing aflatoxin B1 were investigated on growth performance, carcass traits, and immune parameters of broilers, by using 180 one-day-old male broilers (Ross 308) in a 3×3 factorial arrangement in a completely randomized design with three levels of toxin binder (0.0, 0.5, and 1.0 kg/ton) and three levels of aflatoxin B1 (0.0, 0.5, and 1.0 mg/kg) in nine treatments, four replications, and five chickens in each replicate.

The results showed that the using of 1.0 kg/ton of toxin binder significantly reduced the negative effects of 0.5 mg/kg of aflatoxin B1 on the average daily feed intake and weight gain in the finisher and entire production periods and the final live weight in whole production period (P<0.05). The regression equations (Y= -25.033x+ 65.734) with (R2= 0.97), (Y= -23.961x+ 64.844) with (R2= 0.91), and (Y= -15.133x+ 64.319) with (R2= 0.75) were obtained to predict the average daily weight gain of birds fed with treatments containing 0.0, 0.5, and 1.0 kg/ton of "Delta bond®" toxin binder and different levels of aflatoxin B1, respectively. Feeding chickens with diets containing aflatoxin B1 significantly increased liver and spleen weights (P<0.05). All treatments containing 1.0 mg/kg of aflatoxin B1 and treatments containing 0.5 mg/kg of aflatoxin B1 and 0.0 and 0.5 kg/ton of toxin binder showed a significant decrease in the bursa of Fabricius weight compared to the other treatments (P<0.05). In addition, the treatment containing 1.0 mg/kg of aflatoxin B1 without a toxin binder increased heart weight compared to the other treatments (P<0.05). In the case of immune parameters, the amount of heterophils and the ratio of heterophils to lymphocytes were significantly increased and the number of lymphocytes was significantly decreased as the aflatoxin B1 level increased (P<0.05). Furthermore, there were no significant effects for the main and interaction of aflatoxin B1 and the toxin binder for the Newcastle antibody titer.

Based on the results, the addition of 1.0 kg/ton of a multi-component toxin binder to diets containing 0.5 mg/kg aflatoxin B1 can improve the average daily feed intake and weight gain in the finisher and entire production periods, final live weight, and bursa of Fabricius weight of broilers.