Effects of probiotic feed additives on the growth performance and carcass criteria of broiler chickens exposed to an Aflatoxin B1 challenge

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Regional Center for Food and Feed, Agricultural Research Center, 12619 Giza, Egypt.

2 Animal and Poultry Production Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Minia University, 61519 El-Minya, Egypt.

3 Central Laboratory of Residue Analysis of Pesticides and Heavy Metals in Food, Agricultural Research Center, 12619 Giza, Egypt.

4 Department of Animal and Poultry Production, Faculty of Agriculture, South Valley University, 83523 Qena, Egypt

Abstract

The purpose of this experiment was to examine the effects of probiotic feed additives on the growth performance, and carcass criteria of broiler chickens exposed to an aflatoxicosis challenge. A total of 256 Ross 308 broiler chicks were divided into four treatments, which included eight replicates and eight birds in each over a 37-day period. Treatments included a negative control (without additions), a positive control with aflatoxin B1 for only the first 10 days (AFB1, 40 µg/kg), a negative control with probiotic (0.5 mg/kg), and a negative control with a combination of aflatoxin B1 and probiotic. Broiler chickens' body weight gain and feed conversion ratio were dramatically enhanced when their diets included probiotic supplements, either with or without Aflatoxin B1. In treated diets compared to the control group, protein, and ether extract digestibility increased. The broiler chickens fed probiotic additives combined with AFB1 had a lower abdominal fat percentage than the control. Dietary treatments had no significant effect on the internal organs in broiler chickens. In conclusion, the present results indicated that probiotic supplements improved the production sustainability and health status of broiler chickens exposed to the Aflatoxin B1 challenge.

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