Abstract:
This research work focused on a comparative study of the effect of single and combined adsorbents on mycotoxin reduction in poultry feeds. Seven research questions and five null hypotheses were formulated to guide the study. The study adopted complete randomized experimental design where 160 five-week old broiler chicks were randomly divided into eight groups (A = for positive, B = negative controls, T1 = contaminated feed + S.cerevisiae, T2 = contaminated feed + bentonite, T3 = contaminated feed + kaoline, T4 = contaminated feed + S.cerevisiae + Bentonite, T5 = contaminated feed+ S.cerevisiae + Kaolinite and T6 = Contaminated feed + Bentonite + Kaolinite) and replicated thrice with each replicate having 5 birds. The population consisted 210 day-old vaccinated Abor Acre broilers sourced and brooded for 5weeks. The birds were separately housed in a 1.5 x 1.5m2 sized pens and fed ad libitum. Body weights of the birds were measured, blood samples were analysed for serum biochemical and haematological parameters, feed and fecal samples were analysed for proximate and nutrient digestibility, and histopathological examination of sections of the heart, kidney, spleen, liver and bura of Fabricius were made. Data generated were subjected to ANOVA using Minitab and Statistica analytical softwares. It was found out that combined S. cerevisiea + Kaolinite at 1.5g x 1.5g had the highest significant (P<0.05) effect on mycotoxins reduction followed by bentonite + kaolinite and S. cerevisiea + bentonite while single adsorbents at 3g x 3g recorded the lowest impact. Combined adsorbents at 1.5g x1.5g significantly (p<0.05) detoxified the highest number of mycotoxins in contaminated poultry feeds and were more effective in the reduction of mycotoxins effect on haematological and serum biochemical parameters in broilers, nutrient digestibility in broilers, proximate compositions in poultry feeds, and significantly (p<0.05) reduced mycotoxins histopathological effect on the internal organs except in the bursa of Fabricius. Weight gain was significantly (P<0.05) lower in the single adsorbent-treated feeds than the combined adsorbent groups when compared to the controls. The study recommended that combined action of S.cerevisiae + Kaolinite at 1.5g x 1.5g dosage should be conveyed by extension workers to poultry farmers while the use of adsorbents in mycotoxins reduction be integrated into the curriculum of agricultural education at all levels of education.
