Effect of dietary aflatoxin on performence and economics in White Leghorn layers

The crude aflatoxin B₁ (AFB₁) was incorporated @ 0.5, 1.0 2.0 and 0.0 ppm to T₁, T₂, T₃ and T₄, respectively in diet of White Leghorn layers to study its effect on certain production parameters. The difference in body weight and feed conversion efficiency of pullets due to varying levels of aflatoxins in different treatment groups was nonsignificant (P >0.05), however, there was significant (P <0.05) difference in daily feed consumption. The average protein conversion efficiency in different treatment groups was found to be 2.21, 2.23, 2.25 and 2.28, respectively. The highest nitrogen retention was observed in T₄ (52.89%) and lowest in group T₃ (48.72%) receiving 0 and 2 ppm aflatoxin, respectively. The feed cost/kg egg mass produced was lowest (Rs.14.71) in T₄ receiving 0 ppm aflatoxin and highest (Rs. 15.04) in T₃ group receiving 2 ppm aflatoxin. The relative feed cost/dozen egg produced in treatment groups T₁, T₂, T₃ was Rs. 101.08, 101.27 and 101.37, respectively.