A study on the efficacy of dietary Osimum sanctum against aflatoxin B₁ contaminated feed in broilers

The effect of feeding Osimum sanctum as ameliorating agent at four graded levels, i.e. 0.10, 0.15, 0.20 or 0.25 per cent in experimental aflatoxicosis created by feeding of aflatoxin, B₁ @ 300 ppb was studied using broilers. The study indicated that contamination of broiler ration with aflatoxin (AF) resulted in drastic reduction in the performance from growth, feed intake and feed efficiency standpoints. Feeding AF alone caused significant (P<0.05) increase in the relative weights of liver, heart, proventriculus and gizzard but decreased in the relative spleen, bursa of fabricious and ready to cook (RTC) weights as compared to their control counterparts. Dietary AFB₁ also affected leg score, whereas feather and toe haemorrhage scores were uninfluenced. The O. sanctum when fed in the diet showed ameliorating effects in aflatoxicosis as dose related fashion. Among the various doses 0.20 per cent was found to be the best. The herb also yielded beneficial effects on various zootechnical parameters in broilers when used singly.