Division of Avian Nutrition and Feed Technology, Central Avian Research Institute, Izatnagar-243 122, Uttar Pradesh
*Corresponding Author: e-mail: carirsingh@yahoo.co.in
Online published on 19 July, 2017.
The efficacy of dietary DL-methionine (DLM) and methionine hydroxy analogue (MHA) in ameliorating aflatoxicosis caused by 500 ppb aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) in Japanese quails was investigated. A total of 600, day-old quail chicks were divided into ten treatment groups viz. T1-control; T2-500 ppb AFB1, T3-500 ppm DLM, T4 500 ppm MHA, T5-625 MHA, T6-769 ppm MHA supplemented in T1, whereas, T7-T9 diets were supplemented with 500 ppm DLM, 500 ppm MHA, 625 ppm MHA and 769 ppm MHA, respectively in T2 diet. Each diet was fed to four replicated groups of 15 birds each upto 35 days of age. Overall weight gain in groups T8 to T9 was higher than that of T2 but remained lower than that of T1. The weight gain in T10 was similar to that of T1. The overall feed consumption remained similar among various dietary treatments. The FCR of groups T8 and T9 was lower than that of T2 but higher than that of control. The FCR of groups T7 and T10 was lower than that of T2 and similar to that of control. Aflatoxin contamination in diet (T2) resulted in enlarged, pale, congested and round bordered liver. Incorporation of DLM at 500 ppm and MHA at 769 ppm level in AF contaminated diet (T7 and T10) significantly reduced the effects of aflatoxin on liver morphology. It was concluded that dietary addition of aflatoxin B1 at the rate of 500ppb resulted in decreased performance and lesions in liver. However, supplementation of DLM at 500 ppm or MHA at 769 ppm level in 500 ppb aflatoxin contaminated diet ameliorated those adverse effects in Japanese quails.
Aflatoxicosis, DL-methionine, methionine hydroxy analogue, Japanese quail
