Efficacy of Choline in Ameliorating Aflatoxicosis in Broiler Chickens

Abstract

ISSN: 2319-7706 Volume 8 Number 02 (2019) Journal homepage: http://www.ijcmas.com The present study was undertaken to evaluate the efficacy of choline in ameliorating aflatoxicosis in broiler chickens. Day-old broiler chicks (n=240) were divided into 6 treatment groups (T1-control, basal diet; T2-T1+250 ppb AFB1; T3-T1+ 200 ppm Choline; T4-T1+ 400 ppm Choline;T5-T2+ 200 ppm Choline and T6T2+ 400 ppm Choline). Each diet was fed to 4 replicated groups of 10 birds each from day-old to 42 days of age. During overall growth period (0-6 weeks), the BWG of control group (T1) was higher (P<0.05) than that of toxin fed group (T2).The BWG in T5 and T6 was higher (P<0.05) than that of toxin fed group (T2) but lower (P<0.05) than that of control, indicating that addition of choline to the aflatoxin contaminated diet partially ameliorated the adverse effects of aflatoxicosis on body weight gain. The feed intake did not vary significantly among various treatment groups. The FCR in control group (T1) was lower (P<0.05) than that of T2. The FCR in other treatment groups (T3 to T6) was statistically similar to that of control. The relative weight of liver in control group (T1) was lower (P<0.05) than that of aflatoxin fed group (T2). The relative weight of liver in groups T5 and T6 was significantly (P<0.05) lower than that of toxin fed group (T2), but significantly (P<0.05) higher than that of control (T1). The relative weight of bursa of Fabricius in control group (T1) was higher (P<0.05) than that of T2.The relative weight of bursa in group T6 was significantly (P<0.05) higher than that of T5, but lower than that of control (T1). The total serum protein, cholesterolanduric acid content of control group (T1) was higher (P<0.05) than that of T2.The total serum protein, cholesterol and uric acid content of groups T5and T6was higher (P<0.05) than that of T2 but lower than that of T1.The SGPT and SGOT activities in aflatoxin alone fed group (T2) were higher (P<0.05) than that of control (T1).The SGPT and SGOT value in groups T5 and T6 was lower (P<0.05) than that of T2 but higher than that of T1.It was concluded that aflatoxicosis caused by 250 ppb level of dietary aflatoxin resulted in depression of growth, feed intake, feed conversion efficiency; enlargement of liver, regression of bursa, decreased total protein, cholesterol, uric acid, and increased level of SGPT and SGOT activity. Inclusion of choline to the 250 ppb aflatoxin contaminated feed partially ameliorated the adverse effects of aflatoxicosis on production performance, organ weights and blood biochemistry in broiler chickens. K e y w o r d s Aflatoxicosis, Broiler chicken, Production performance, Choline Accepted: 18 January 2019