MITIGATION OF RESIDUAL AFLATOXINS IN EDIBLE TISSUES OF BROILER CHICKENS

Abstract

Aflatoxins result in retarded growth or stunting in children. Strategies to reduce retention of inevitably absorbed aflatoxins in broiler chickens are less reported. Therefore, effect of mitigants made of yeast betaglucans, supplemental dietary antioxidants (DA) and vitamin K (VK) in reducing residual aflatoxins in broiler chickens was investigated. Unsexed 180-day-old Arbor Acres chicks were randomly allotted into six dietary treatments for 49 days. Treatment (T) 1 was negative control (NC), T2 was positive control (PC), with 270±16µg.kg-1 total aflatoxins (AFB1 and AFB2). T3 to T6 had 270µg.kg-1 aflatoxins, DA and VK. T3 and T4 had 250mg.kg-1 of beta-glucans inclusion, while T5 and T6 had 375mg.kg-1. Inclusion rates of DA were: vitamin E (VE) 200mg.kg-1; vitamin C (VC) 250mg.kg-1; selenium 0.3mg.kg-1 and VK 3mg.kg-1. Only T4 and T6 had selenium. The experiment was completely randomised in a 2 + (2x2) augmented factorial arrangement. Aflatoxins retention and their residual in liver and breast meat (BM) were measured. Data were analysed using Anova at α0.05. Aflatoxins retention was reduced (P < 0.05) from 55.97% in PC birds to 12.00% in birds on T6. Residual aflatoxins in BM (2.56µg.kg-1) and liver (3.46µg.kg-1) in PC were reduced (P < 0.05) to 0.23µg.kg-1 in BM and 0.35µg.kg-1 in liver of birds on T5 and T6, respectively. Birds on T3 to T6 had reduction (P < 0.05) in aflatoxin retention and residual aflatoxins in BM and liver below those on PC. In conclusion, addition of beta-glucans, supplemental dietary antioxidants and vitamin K was effective in reducing residual aflatoxins in breast meat and liver of broiler chickens.