Impact of the use of a toxin adsorbent on growth performance in broiler chickens
H. Amroun, N. Mimoune*, N. Ait Issad, C. Houari, C. Ammari, A. G. Dra and D. Khelef
Abstract
Raw material mixtures in compound feeds may increase the risk of contamination with different mycotoxins, and their intake can lead to interactive toxic effects. As a result, there is a growing awareness of the risks posed to human and animal health by the presence of toxins produced by fungi in food and diet. The aim of this study is to assess the impact of the use of a mycotoxin binder (Micotec) on zootechnical performance in broilers. For this purpose, 3000 day-old chicks of the Arbor acres strain originating from the same hatchery were weighed and distributed equally into six groups [one control (C) and five experimental (Exp), as five repetitions receiving the mycotoxin binder Micotec at a dose of 0.1 kg]. All subjects (control and experimental groups) were fed a standard staple food suitable for each phase of rearing. The results showed significant differences between the experimental groups and the control one. The best zootechnical performances were recorded in experimental groups receiving the mycotoxin binder, compared to the control. The average weight in the finishing phase for the experimental groups was 3083.6 ± 140.7 g/subject, which was higher than the control group (2800 g/subject) (P<0.05). The consumption index was 1.62 ± 0.08% in the experimental groups, which was 1.84% higher than in chicks of the control group, positively impacting the profitability of breeding. In addition, a lower mortality rate was recorded in the experimental groups than the control (3.01 ± 0.08% vs 7.78%). According to these results, Micotec appears to be a promising additive in improving the zootechnical performance of broilers by adsorbing several types of mycotoxins and reducing their toxic power to ensure safe feed for animals and minimise economic losses caused by these contaminants.
Key words: binder; mycotoxins; Micotec; zootechnical performance; broiler chickens
Introduction
Among the multitude of contaminants known today, toxigenic fungi constitute a real danger to the health of consumers (humans and animals) once ingested, even in low rates (Yiannikouris and Jouany, 2002; Eskola et al., 2018, 2019). These fungi act during their proliferation in food by the secretion of highly toxic substances, called mycotoxins. Indeed, a modern diet and food manufacturing suffers from increased risks of mycotoxin contamination, as mould infection can affect almost all relevant sectors, from field cultivation to storage and logistics of the finished products (Berthiller et al., 2013; Pitt et al., 2017).
In livestock, especially poultry, mycotoxins can lead to reduced performance, diet refusal, poor feeding, reduced weight gain, immunosuppression and reproductive disorders (Huwig et al., 2001; Wu and Mitchell, 2016). This is especially true since poultry (broiler chicken) is an important and economical source of animal protein for developing countries (SANOFI, 1999; Scanes, 2007; Naushad et al., 2021). Mixtures of various raw materials in compound feeds may increase the risk of contamination with several mycotoxins. The intake of combinations of mycotoxins can lead to interactive toxic effects (CAST, 2003). As a result, there is a growing awareness of the risks posed to human and animal health by the presence of toxins produced by fungi in food and diet. In the other hand, few data are available regarding the effects of mycotoxin binders on broiler nutrition and farming (Heidari et al., 2018).
In this context, we were interested in evaluating the zootechnical performance of broiler chickens throughout the different phases of rearing, by using a mycotoxin binder ‒ Micotec. It can be used as a feed additive and is known for its richness in inorganic and organic adsorbents, organic acid salts, and antioxidant agents.
Materials and Methods
Study site
This study was carried out on a private poultry farm in the commune of Boutlélis, Oran, Algeria for a period of 45 days, from the first day of delivery (1 March 2021) until slaughter (14 April 2021).
Animals
A total of 3000 day-old chicks of the Arbor acres strain from the same hatchery were weighed and divided equally into six groups (one control (C) and five experimental (Exp) groups, as five replicates receiving the Mycotoxin binder (Micotec).
Throughout the study, chickens were fed and watered and kept in the same building to ensure similar rearing conditions.
Mycotoxin binder
Micotec is a mycotoxin sequestrant designed for all species that combines two actions, binding toxins in the animal’s body and having powerful antifungal activity in raw material.
Food
All chickens were fed the same basic diet in the form of pellets (Tables 1 and 2), with three successive types of standard diet, corresponding to each rearing phase, i.e., Start-up feed administered from days 1 to 20 (d1 to d20); Growth feed from d21 to d35; and Finishing feed from d36 to d45. During the entire rearing period, feed and water were provided ad libitum.
Building and equipment
The 875 m2 building meets the criteria of modern breeding and ensures thermal insulation, good sanitary control, and environmental standards. It contains a technical room with a computerised system equipped with various probes to detect all the information: internal and external temperature, humidity, heating, ventilation and to correct any fault or imbalance.
Ventilation is ensured by six extractors with a capacity of 34,000 m3/h, lighting is ensured by 24 lamps (60 W) throughout the breeding period (day and night).
During the experimental period, only one type of bedding was used; chopped straw. A sanitary vacuum of one month was carried out to prolong the action of the disinfectant (TH5® and virckon S) and to dry floors and walls, as well as for climatic reasons.
Rearing health programme
The health protocol followed on the farm is presented in Table 3.
Experimental approach
During the experimental period, work concerning the conduct and monitoring of breeding was carried out by: feed consumption control, weighing the amount of feed left to calculate the daily amount consumed per batch; control of the ambient parameters (the building is equipped with four temperature probes and a control box for hygrometry); maintenance of the litter box; measurement of zootechnical parameters: live weight, feed conversion ratio and mortality rate were determined at the end of each phase.
Live weight (LW)
To assess the progression of live weight, a sample of 30 chickens from each group (control and experimental) was weighed at d25, d45, and d63. The average individual weight was obtained by dividing the total weight of animals in each group by the number of chickens weighed.
Consumption Index (CI)
The amount of feed consumed was calculated for each group at d20, d35, and d45, as the difference between the amount of feed distributed at the beginning and refusal measured at the end.
Weight gain
Weight gain was estimated as the difference between the average final and initial live weight of the period considered.
Consumption and conversion index
The conversion and consumption indices were calculated for each group at d20, d35, and d45.
Mortality rate
The daily mortality record was taken at the beginning of each day, and the mortality rate was calculated at d20, d35 and d45.
Mortality rate = (number of dead subjects ÷ initial number) × 100
All experiments were carried out according to the guidelines of the Institutional Animal Care Committee of the Algerian Higher Education and Scientific Research (Agreement Number 45/DGLPAG/DVA.SDA.14).
Statistical analysis
The results of the parameters were analysed using the Chi-square test of independence with SPSP statistics software, at a significance level P at 5%.
Results
Average weights and consumption indices at the end of the start-up phase
The results are summarised in Table 4 and Fig. 1.
The data showed that the average weight of subjects was higher than 700 g for the majority of the groups, with a much higher consumption of food in the control group.
Average weight and consumption index at the end of the growth phase
The results are presented in Table 5 and Fig. 2.
At the end of the growth phase, the results show that the number of subjects, the average feed consumption and the feed conversion ratio were nearly identical for all groups (including the control) (P>0.05), unlike the average weight of the subjects in experimental groups 1, 3, 4 and 5 compared to control group and experimental group 2, where the difference was significant (P<0.05).
Average weights, consumption indices, mortality rates in the finishing phase
The results found are presented in Table 6 and Fig. 3, 4, and 5 as follows.
Mean ± Standard Deviation Exp*: Mean ± Standard Deviation of the five experimental groups.
The best average weight of the subjects was achieved in experimental group 5 of 3242 g, followed by groups 1 and 4 which exceeded 3000 g per subject, contrary to the control group (which was the weakest with an average weight of 2800 g per subject (P<0.05).
he best consumption index was achieved in experimental group 5 (1.54%), followed by groups 1 and 4 (1.58%).
The control group recorded the highest consumption index (1.84%), which has a negative impact on the profitability of the farm.
The lowest mortality rate was recorded in experimental group 5 (1.41%), followed by groups 2 and 3 (2.82% and 3.29%, respectively). The highest mortality rate is recorded in the control group, with 35 deaths (7.78%).
Discussion
The data clearly show that the administration of the mycotoxin binder (Micotec) in feed allowed chickens to better express their potential regardless of the phase of the breeding cycle, resulting in a higher yield and better consumption index. This confirms the results of other studies using the same (Ait Issad et al., 2022; Mimoune et al., 2023) or other mycotoxin binder molecules (Aravind et al., 2003; Liu et al., 2011).
In terms of zootechnical performance of broilers, the final weight of animals receiving Micotec 0.1% (1 kg Micotec in 1 tonne of broiler feed) showed the highest final weight (from 3166 to 3243 g) compared to the control group (2800 g). This improved growth performance can be attributed to the effect of Micotec on slowing intestinal transit and thus leading to an increased retention time of digestate in the lumen of the intestines and therefore better utilisation of nutrients that likely induces good muscle development in chickens. Our data are in agreement with other studies that reported that toxin binders are able to reduce the poison absorption rate from the gastrointestinal tract and increase nutrient use and the growth performance of broilers (Wang et al., 2006; Pappas et al., 2014; Agboola et al., 2015). However, Heidari et al. (2018) did not find any impact of the toxin adsorbents on the growth performance of broiler chickens.
Micotec significantly decreased mortality, which varied between 1.41% and 4% in the experimental groups, as compared to the high rate in the control group (7.78%). Our results showed the effect of Micotec on the health of the subjects.
Indeed, starting from the fact that mycotoxins also have a negative impact on immunity, the effect of neutralising them allowed animals to have a better sanitary state which, in addition to having an effect on zootechnical performance, also reduced the mortality rate. In this context, Pasha et al. (2007) revealed that a mycotoxin binder may improve the immunity of broiler chickens. Heidari et al. (2018) explained that the presence of these toxin adsorbents in the diet may prevent protein synthesis, consequently decreasing production of IgA and IgG and subsequently reducing infections in birds. Therefore, in challenging conditions, it can be expected that the presence of fungal toxin binders could modulate this mechanism.
Conclusion
Mycotoxins remain an issue in broiler breeding, affecting productivity by reducing yields and indices. There are means to address this issue, particularly with the addition of substances that neutralise these mycotoxins by using binders. Our data clearly showed the beneficial effects of the use of Micotec in feed: through its capacity to absorb moisture contained in the stored feed, prolonging its shelf life and reducing the risk of contamination, through the presence of the mycotoxic fungi and on the animal, by neutralising mycotoxins within the digestive tract and preventing their absorption. In Algeria, many elements remain to be discovered in this area. The presence of mycotoxins in the animal diet should be the subject of serious study, particularly in the following avenues of research: experiments with multiple mycotoxin binders; extending the work to a larger sample size; detailed analysis of the ecology of toxigenic fungi and the influence of storage conditions (temperature, humidity) on toxinogenesis; and applying molecular techniques to more accurately identify toxigenic isolates.
References [… show]
Učinak uporabe adsorbensa toksina na učinkovitost rasta tovnih pilića
Habib AMROUN, Department of Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Life, University Djillali Liabes of Sidi Bel Abbes 22000, Algeria; Nora MIMOUNE, National High School of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Health & Production Laboratory, El-Alia, Algiers, Algeria; Nassima AIT ISSAD, Institute of Veterinary Sciences, Saad Dahleb University, Blida, Algeria; Chelali HOUARI, SARL ADICALES, Oran, Algeria; Chama AMMARI, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Laboratory of Animal Health, Animal Production, and Environment (ESPA), Institute of Veterinary Sciences and Agricultural Sciences, University of Batna 1, Batna 05000, Algeria; Amira Ghislaine DRA, Biotoxicologie Laboratory, Department of Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Life, University Djillali Liabes of Sidi Bel Abbes 22000, Algeria; Djamel KHELEF, National High School of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Health & Production Laboratory, El-Alia, Algiers, Algeria
Mješavina različitih sirovina u krmnim smjesama može povećati rizik od kontaminacije s nekoliko mikotoksina, a njihov unos može dovesti do interaktivnih toksičnih učinaka. Kao rezultat, zbog prisutnosti toksina koje proizvode gljivice u hrani i prehrani postoji sve veća svijest o rizicima za zdravlje ljudi i životinja. Cilj je ove studije bio procijeniti učinak uporabe sredstva za vezivanje mikotoksina (Micotec) na zootehničku učinkovitost u tovnih pilića. U tu je svrhu, tri tisuće (3000) pilića soja Arbor acres starih jedan dan, iz iste valionice, izvagano je i homogeno podijeljeno u 6 skupina (1 kontrolna (C) i 5 eksperimentalnih (Exp) koje su uključivale 5 ponavljanja primanja sredstva za vezivanje mikotoksina Micotec) u dozi od 0,1 kg. Svi pilići i iz kontrole i iz eksperimentalnih skupina hranjeni su standardnom osnovnom hranom prikladnom za svaku fazu uzgoja. Dobiveni rezultati pokazali su značajne razlike između eksperimentalnih skupina i kontrolne skupine. Naime, bolja zootehnička učinkovitost u usporedbi s kontrolnom skupinom zabilježena je u eksperimentalnim skupinama koje su primale sredstvo za vezivanje mikotoksina. Prosječna masa u završnoj fazi za eksperimentalne skupine bila je 3083,6 ± 140,65 g / piliću što je više u usporedbi s kontrolnom skupinom (2800 g / piliću) (P<0,05). Osim toga, indeks potrošnje bio je 1,62 % ± 0,078 u eksperimentalnim skupinama što je bolje u usporedbi s onim zabilježenim u pilića u kontrolnoj skupini (1,84 %), a to pokazuje pozitivan učinak na profitabilnost uzgoja; uz to je i niska stopa smrtnosti zabilježena u eksperimentalnim skupinama (3,01 % ± 0,078 u usporedbi sa 7,78 % za kontrolnu skupinu). Prema ovim rezultatima, Micotec se čini kao obećavajući aditiv u poboljšanju zootehničke učinkovitosti tovnih pilića apsorpcijom nekoliko vrsta mikotoksina i smanjenjem njihove toksičnosti, osiguravajući sigurnu hranu za životinje, a koja smanjuje i ekonomske gubitke prouzročene tim mikotoksinima.
Ključne riječi: sredstvo za vezivanje, mikotoksini, Micotec, zootehnička učinkovitost, tovni pilići
