Effects of Local Sodium Bentonite as Aflatoxin Binder and Its Effects on Production Performance of Laying Hens.

The study was designed to examine the effect of sodium bentonite (SB) as mycotoxin binder in poultry feed and its effects on productions performance of laying hens. A total of forty-five production hens white leghorn aged 34 weeks were caged in a naturally aired laying house into five different groups. Group A was kept as control group, Group B was fed with higher level 170 ppb aflatoxin without binders, and Group C feed contained 170 ppb aflatoxin with 1.5% SB binder, Group D contained 170 ppb aflatoxin with 2% SB and Group E feed contained 170 ppb aflatoxin with 2.5% SB. Aflatoxin contamination adversely affected the egg production and feed consumption. Addition of 2% and 2.5% SB increased (P<0.05) in feed intake and egg productions. SB appears to be useful as toxin binding additive and counteracting the deleterious effects of aflatoxin. However there were no obvious effects observed among groups in respect to egg yolk and albumin content. Significant effect was observed among the groups for feed consumption, egg production, weight, shell weight and thickness and for FCR value. The addition of 2% SB showed better feed and protein utilizations leading an increased egg production and reduced eggs defects in layer hens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]