Efficacy of DL- Methionine in amelioration of aflatoxicosis in coloured broiler chicken

Abstract

The effect of supplementation of DL- methionine (0.025 and 0.05%) in diet containing 1 ppm total aflatoxin (AF: 76.45% AFB1, 10.52% AFB 2, 9.89% AFG1 and 3.14% AFG2) in broiler chickens (day-old to 42 days of age) was investigated. Day-old broiler chicks (180) were divided into 6 treatment groups (T1 - control; T2 - T1 + 1ppm AF, T3 - T1 + 0.025% Met, T4 - T 1 + 0.05% Met, T5 - T2 + 0.025% Met, and T 6 - T2 + 0.05% Met). Each diet was fed to 3 replicated groups of 10 birds each from day-old to 42 days of age. The results showed that the body weight gain (BWG) of aflatoxin fed group (T2) was lower than that of control group (T1). The weight gain in groups T3 and T4 did not differ from control, while in groups T5 and T6 gain was higher than that of T2, but lower than that of control. The feed intake (FI) in T5 and T6 was higher than that of T2, but lower than that of control, while FI did not differ in T3 and T4 from that of control. The FCR also increased to 2.41 in T2 in comparison to control (2.15). Barring T2, the FCR in other groups were equal to that of control. Significantly reduced serum protein and cholesterol were reported in T 2 compared to T1. The serum protein and cholesterol content in group T5 and T6 remained higher than that of T2, but lower than that of control. ASAT and ALAT activities were increased by feeding aflatoxin (T2) compared to T1. Methionine supplementation to toxin contaminated diet (T5 and T 6) reversed these parameters more or less comparable to that of control. Significant increase in the relative weights of liver and gizzard due to aflatoxin feeding (T2) was reported compared to control. The relative weights of liver and gizzard in groups T5 and T6 were similar to that of control. The relative weight of bursa of Fabricius in T2 was lower compared to control. The relative weights of bursa in groups T5 and T6 was similar to that of control. It was concluded that inclusion of slightly higher methionine (0.025 or 0.05%) in feed of coloured broiler chickens was beneficial to counteract the adverse effects of aflatoxin partially.