Efficacy of Pumice on Aflatoxicosis Reduction in Broiler Chick Diet
By Nekom Shanasan
The study on the efficiency of pumice for aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) adsorption was carried out in vitro. It was found that the adsorption efficiency was 61% and was stable at the pH range 3 – 10. The in vivo study was carried out in 4 – 7 weeks old 707 Arbor Acre broilers of mixed sexes. One hundred forty heads of broiler were raised under the same condition during the first 3 weeks of age. Thereafter, they were divided into 7 groups, each with 2 replicates. Ten heads of each replicate were raised in 1 sq.m. floor pen, in which water and feed were allowed for freely accessed. Group 1 was the control while the diets of group 2, 4 and 6 contained 100, 200 and 300 ppb of aflatoxins (AF), respectively. The diets of group 3, 5, 7 were the same as those 3 groups but supplemented with 4% pumice. It was found that AF tended to decrease broilers’ performances (weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion ratio). At the concentration of 300 ppb AF, growth rate depressed while liver and gizzard enlarge significantly (P<0.05). Hematocrit, hemoglobin and plasma protein tended to decrease. The supplement of 4% pumice seems to reduce toxic effect of AF since broilers’ performances, blood parameters and the weight of visceral organs were improved to be equal to the control group. The supplement of pumice to the diet containing 100 ppb AF gave feed cost increased 1.92 Bt/kg BW. On the other hand, the supplement of pumice to the diet with 200 – 300 ppb AF the production cost decreased 1.11 – 1.48 Bt/kg BW.
March 14 2008 10:21 am | Research