Effect of dietary methomin as a counteracting agent in experimental aflatoxicosis of broilers Sapcota D., Islam R., Baruah K.K. Department of Poultry Science, College of Veterinary Science, Khanapara, Guwahati - 781 022 (Assam) Abstract A study was conducted to find out beneficial effects of dietary methomin (MM) as a counteracting agent of aflatoxin in broilers. Six isocaloric and isonitrogenous diets were prepared mixing aflatoxin B1 (300 ppb) and/or MM at different proportions, T0: control (no toxin, no MM), T1: T0 + aflatoxin B1,@ 300 ppb, T1M1: T1 + MM, @ 0.6% in the diet, T1M2: T1 + MM, @1.0% in the diet, T1M3: T1 + MM, @ 1.3% in the diet and T1M4: T1 + MM, @1.6%. Feeding was accomplished in triplicate, to six groups of Anak 2000 broilers having 20 numbers in each. The dietary aflatoxin significantly (P<0.05) reduced the weekly body weight gain, feed intake and feed efficiency of broilers as compared to control group. However, addition of MM among the toxin mixed diet could improve the condition of broilers remarkably. The weekly body weight gain was highest (1386±35 g) with MM (@1.6%) in the toxin fed group. Feed consumption of the birds was also improved when the toxin fed birds were supplemented with MM. Better feed efficiency (1.93±0.05) was recorded with the highest dose of MM. i.e. @ 1.6% in the toxin fed group. The improvement in terms of weight gain, feed consumption and FCR were dose dependent. It is concluded that the dietary MM could significantly counteract the toxic effect of aflatoxicosis in broilers. Top Key words Broilers, aflatoxin, body weight, feed intake, feed efficiency, methionine-hydroxy-analogue, methomin. Top |