Reproductive response of laying chickens to ameliorative method of aflatoxin

Abstract

Aflatoxin is toxic, carcinogenic and ubiquitous in nature, affecting both crops and livestock. Mitigating aflatoxin effect using toxin binders has not been very effective. Information on the use of biological methods in aflatoxin mitigation has not been adequately documented. Consequently, influence of bio-control method of aflatoxin on some reproductive hormones, ovarian weight and histopathological parameters of laying chickens (LC) were investigated. Point-of-lay Bovan Nera (n=700) were harphazardly distributed to four dietary treatments; Aflasafe maize-based diet (AMBD), farm feed (FF), aflatoxin-contaminated diet with toxin binder (ACDTB) and aflatoxin-contaminated diet without toxin binder (ACDWTB). The contaminated diets contained 306.3ppb aflatoxin and the experimental design was completely randomized into four treatments (n= 175) of five replicates (n=35) per treatment for a period of 14 weeks. Blood (5mL) was collected at 14th week for LC to determine the estrogen, luteinising hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), histopathology of the ovary using standard procedures. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and ANOVA at a0.05. The ROW (%) ranged from 0.34{+/-}0.2 (ACDTB) to 0.93{+/-}0.3 (AMBD). Estrogen (mg/dL) value was highest in LC fed ACDWTB (2.75{+/-}1.08) and least in FF (2.07{+/-}0.52). The LH (iu/L) value was highest in LC fed AMBD (1.29{+/-}1.68) and least in ACDTB (0.36{+/-}0.32). Histopathology of the ovary showed cysts, observed along the oviduct wall in LC fed ACDTB. AMBD enhanced active laying period in LC with no sign of aflatoxocosis. The use of aflasafe maize grain in poultry diet is recommended.