BENTONITE PERFORMANCE ON BROILER CHICKENS FED WITH DIETS

A. MAGNOLI; L. CAVAGLIERI; C.E.MAGNOLI; J.C. MONGE, R. MIAZZO, M. PERALTA, M. SALVANO, A. DALCERO, S.M. CHIACCHIERA

REVISTA BRASILEIRA DE MEDICINA VETERINARIA

SOC MEDICINA VETERINARIA ESTADO RIO DE JANEIRO

Año: 2008 vol. 30 p. 55 - 60

0100-2430

The efficacy of a natural bentonite, from San Juan, Argentina that is used in the market as binding agent for pellet formation in poultry feed, was evaluated to prevent the aflatoxin effects in broilers fed with diets containing natural levels of aflatoxin B1 . (AFB). Therefore, the possible preventive role of dietary bentonite on liver pathological changes was examined. Bentonite (0.3%) was incorporated into diets with natural levels ranging from 30 to 185 ìg/kg of AFB. Male broiler chicks from 21 to 35 d of age received ad libitum access to their respective diets and water. When compared with controls, productive parameters (body weight gain and feed intake) did not show any differences. The same tendency was observed in the macroscopic organ inspection. However, the histopathology of the liver (the aflatoxin B1 target organ) showed that lesions attributed to aflatoxicosis were ameliorated by the bentonite addition. Although the bentonite used in this study did not exert any influence on the productive parameters, it was able to protect the AFB1 effects on liver, preventing the hepatotoxicity. Future studies will be conducted to evaluate the bentonite ability to counteract the aflatoxin effects and to adsorb other diet components at low AFB1 exposure levels. Studies will be conducted to evaluate the bentonite ability to counteract the aflatoxin effects and to adsorb other diet components at low AFB1 exposure levels.