Efficacy of hydrated sodium calcium aluminosilicate in ameliorating ochratoxicosis in broiler chickens

The efficacy of hydrated sodium calcium aluminosilicate (HSCAS) in ochratoxin A (OTA) contaminated diet of broiler chickens was investigated. Day-old chicks (n=240) were divided into six treatment groups (T₁-control; T₂-T₁ + 150 ppb OTA; T₃-T₁ + 0.25% HSCAS; T₄-T₁ + 0.50% HSCAS; T₅-T₂ + 0.25% HSCAS; T₆-T₂ + 0.50% HSCAS). Each diet was fed to 5 replicated groups of 8 birds each from 0 to 42 days of age. During overall growth period the body weight gain (BWG), feed intake of birds in control group (T₁) was higher (P<0.05) than those fed ochratoxin (T₂) or T₅ and T₆. The FCR in T₁ group was better (P<0.05) than that of T₂, T₅ and T₆ group. The lower liver and kidney weight, but higher bursa of Fabricius weight was recorded in control group. Higher total serum protein and cholesterol content but lower (P<0.05) uric acid and alkaline phosphatase value was observed in control group (T₁) was than that of T₂. Addition of HSCAS at 0.50% level to the ochratoxin contaminated diet partially ameliorated the adverse effects of ochratoxicosis. It was concluded that ochratoxin contamination of feed at the rate of 150 ppb impaired the production performance and altered relative organ weights and blood biochemistry. Incorporation of HSCAS to the ochratoxin contaminated feed could not ameliorate the adverse effects of ochratoxicosis, however, 0.50 percent level of HSCAS partially alleviated the ill effects of ochratoxicosis in broiler chickens.