Efficacy of Attapulgite, Hydrated Sodium Calcium Aluminosilicate and Bentonite Against Aflatoxin and T-2 Toxin in Broiler

Table 2 presents the production performance of the broilers at different periods as influenced by the toxin binders. Statistical analysis revealed significant effects of treatments on various production parameters in some periods. On the 10th day, significant differences in the gain in weight of the broilers from the different treatments were not observed (P>0.05). However, differences due to the treatments at 24 d (P<0.009), 32 d (P<0.0069), 11-24 d (P<0.02), as well as at 25-32 d (P<0.02) were noted. During these periods, the gain in weight of the broilers fed the Control diet was generally comparable with most of the broilers from the different treatments except for those fed the diet with AP which was significantly higher in all measurement periods; the broilers from the latter had also significantly higher gain in weight than their counterparts fed diet with HC, BP, and HP in all periods except at 25-32 d when comparable value with the diet with BP was noted. Moreover, the broilers from this treatment (AP) attained significantly higher weight gain compared to AR in all periods, except at 11-24 d, which was comparable. For broilers fed the diet with AR, significantly higher weight gain was observed compared with those fed the diet with BP at 11-24 d. Significant effects of the treatments on the cumulative feed intake of the broilers were observed on the 10th d (P<0.0001) and 24th d (P<0.0087). In these periods, the feed intake of the broilers fed the Control diet was higher than those from any of the treatments. Broilers from both diets with AR and AP had comparable feed intakes, which were higher than those from the other treatments (HC, HP, and BP) at 10 d but not at 24 d. A numerically higher feed intake for the broilers in the control compared to their counterparts was observed at 32 d and 11 to 24 d, but values among treatments with toxin binders did not greatly differ. The FCR of broilers fed the Control diet was the worst in all measurement periods, which reached numerical to statistical differences (P<0.0001) compared to their counterparts. At 10 d, the FCR of broilers fed a diet with AR and AP was comparable but was better than those fed diets with HC, BP and HP; broilers fed a diet with HC had better FCR than those fed diet with HP. This trend was also noted at 24 d, except no differences among diets with HC, BP and HP were noted. The FCR of broilers fed a diet with AR and AP was better than any of the treatments at 32 d and 11-24 d; broilers fed diet with AP had a better FCR than those fed diet with AR at 32 d but were comparable at 11-24 d. At 25-32 d, FCR of the broilers fed the diet with AP was better than that of their counterparts with toxin binders in their diet, including those fed the diet with AR; the latter had an FCR value that did not differ from those fed the diet with HC, BP, and HP. The results demonstrated that the diet containing aflatoxin and T2 toxin adversely affected the growth and FCR of the broilers without the inclusion of an effective toxin binder. The basal booster, starter and finisher diets had a calculated amount of 98 ppb, 99 ppb, and 100 ppb aflatoxin and 86 ppb, 87 ppb, and 87 ppb T2 toxin, respectively. The aflatoxin was almost twice (50 ppb) the risk level while the T-2 toxin was near the low-risk level (>100 ppb) for these mycotoxins, as indicated by PHILSAN [11]. The amelioration of the adverse effects of these harmful metabolites by the toxin binders indicated their favorable actions. The superior growth and FCR of the broilers fed a diet with AP were possibly related to the synergistic effects of the attapulgite and its adjuncts, resulting in enhanced toxin adsorption and overall health status of the broilers. Without the adjunct (AR), attapulgite rendered protection of the broilers against the mycotoxins better than its counterparts, as evidenced by their better FCR at the end of the feeding period (32 d). The physicochemical properties [5] and production processes, origin, mode of actions or reactions in the gut and other unknown factors contribute to the efficacy and safety of adsorbing or bio-transforming toxins in the gut [13]. Thus, it can be inferred that the attapulgite is conferred with attributes that render its actions against the mycotoxins superior to its counterparts.

The livability of the broilers at different periods is presented in Table 3. Small differences among treatments in the livability of the broilers at 10 d and 24 d were observed; the differences, though, were a bit larger at 32 d, with the lowest fed diets with HP and BP. Statistical analysis showed that these differences were insignificant (P>0.05).

The carcass yield, liver and gizzard + proventriculus of the broilers as influenced by the treatments, including that for the reference group, are presented in Table 4. There were no differences (P>0.05) among treatments as well as the reference group on any of these parameters. However, the liver of broilers in the Control was numerically heavier than the broilers fed the diet with any of the toxin binders, as well as those from the reference group indicating adverse effects of the toxins. The lower weight of the liver of broilers, irrespective of the toxin binder added to their diet, suggests mitigation of the harmful effects of toxins by the toxin binders. It was also noted that the liver of the broilers given the control diet had a lighter brown-red color than those fed the diet with toxin binders. Lesions in the mouth and gizzard, as well as enlarged proventriculus, which were possibly due to T-2 toxin, were observed in some sample broilers fed the Control diet but none in the broilers fed the diet with any of the toxin binders. Aflatoxin is a potent hepatotoxin that causes varying degrees of liver breakdown and its toxicity is enhanced by the presence of other toxins such as T-2 and ochratoxin [7]. The levels of aflatoxin and T-2, as stated above, in the diet, therefore, disrupted normal liver functions. It was plausible that the poorer growth and FCR of the broilers fed the Control diet than their counterparts were associated with damage to their liver. The inclusion of any of the toxin binders gave protection to the liver at varying degrees judging on the gain in weight and FCR of the broilers. It was likely that this was related to the properties of the toxin binders as well as the adjuncts they contain, as mentioned above. To some extent, the toxin binder properties were likely factors for such differences as manifested by the better FCR of broilers (32 d) fed the diet with AR compared to those fed the diet with HC, HP and BP. It was plausible that the lessened amount of the toxins reaching the liver occurred as a result of more toxins being absorbed by the AR than its counterparts. Moreover, the adjuncts possibly influenced the superior FCR (32 d) of the broilers fed the diet with AP.

The cost of feed consumed for each type of diet, final gain in weight, and feed cost per kg gain in bodyweight of the broilers is given in Table 5. The cost of the booster diet for both diets with AR and AP was comparable but was significantly lower (P<0.01) than the Control diet, and diets with HC, BP and HP. The cost of starter and finisher diets, as well as the total for all diets, did not differ significantly (P>0.05), but numerical differences among the treatments were noted. As presented above, the gain in weight of the broilers at 32 d differed significantly (P< 0.009), with the broilers fed the diet containing AP higher than any of its counterparts; broilers fed the other diets had comparable weight gain. For the cost per kg gain in weight, diets with AR and AP were comparable, which was significantly lower than any of the treatments (P<0.0001); HC, BP, and HP effected comparable cost per kg gain in bodyweight which did not differ with Control diet, except for diet with HC where much lower cost was incurred than the latter (Control). The gain in weight and the cost of diets are key factors for the cost of gain by the broilers. The cost of the toxin binder differed, with the highest for the BP followed by HP, HC, AP and AR at PhP 550.00, PhP 360.00, PhP 300.00, PhP 280, and PhP 100.00, per kg respectively. In effect, the average cost per kg diet (booster, starter and finisher) at 1 kg/ton inclusion rate of the toxin binders was PhP 29.12, PhP 28.93, PhP 28.87, PhP 28.85, and PhP 28.67 for the BP, HP, HC, AP and AR, respectively; the Control diet had an average cost of PhP 27.89/kg. The inclusion of a toxin binder to a diet increases its cost and varies depending on the cost of the binder of choice. More importantly, though, its impact on gain in weight and the consequent cost of feed per kg gain. Thus, AP addition to the diet had the economic advantage relative to these criteria.

The results indicated that feeding a diet containing aflatoxin and T-2 toxin compromised performance and caused damage to some organs. The addition of toxin binders singly or with adjunct/additions alleviated the adverse effects of these mycotoxins. Among the toxin binders, the attapulgite with adjuncts showed the most effective prevention of the mycotoxins, resulting in superior gain and feed conversion of the broilers. Moreover, the least-cost feed cost per kg gain was realized in feeding the broilers.