Pages: (37-42 )
Abstract
The effect of different levels of bentonite montmorillonite binder (BB) to reduce aflatoxicosis in turkey was studied. Eighty 21-day old Nicholas turkey poults were randomly assigned to five treatments of four replicates with each replicate having four poults. The experimental diets were: positive control (PC) with no aflatoxin or BB, negative control (NC) with 200μg/kg of total aflatoxin, NC + 2g/kg BB, NC + 4g/kg BB and NC + 6g/kg BB. The experiment was observed for 21 days. Aflatoxin significantly reduced feed intake and body weight gain in poults that were treated with aflatoxin and BB. Mortalities were 0%, 56%, 44%, 56% and 38% for diets 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 respectively. Serum protein and albumin were also reduced significantly in poults that received aflatoxin alone and with binder. In summary, there was no significant effect of inclusion of bentonite-montmorillonite binder up to 6g/kg on the response criteria measured in this study.
Keywords: Aflatoxicosis; turkey poults; bentonite-montmorillonite.,