Growth Performance of Kuroiler (Rhode Island x White Leghorn) Chickens Fed Aflatoxin Contaminated Maize- Based Diets Treated with Different Amounts of Lemon (Limon citrus) Juice

Abstract

Aflatoxin contamination in feed and feed ingredients is prevalent worldwide, and poses serious risks to both livestock and humans. This study was conducted to assess the effects of feeding Aflatoxin (AF) contaminated maize-based diets treated with varying levels of Lemon juice, to Kuroiler chickens on their growth performance. Lemon juice was extracted from fruits purchased from the local market and mixed with isocaloric and Isonitrogenic diets (starter, grower and finisher) containing AF-contaminated maize, at 0, 250, 500 and 750ml Lemon juice/Kg of feed. The diets were left to dry for 24hrs, after which 100g samples were collected from each diet to measure and compare the residual AF levels. Then, 100 day-old Kuroiler chicks were sourced from a local hatchery, and divided into four treatment groups (n = 25). Each group was replicated four times. The treatment groups were randomly assigned to 0, 250, 500, and 750ml Lemon juice/Kg feed –treated diets. These feeds and clean drinking water, were supplied to the birds ad libitum for 49 days. Feed intake was monitored every day, and body weights, weight gains, and feed conversion ratios were assessed every week. It was observed that the amount of residual AF in each diet depended on the amount of lemon juice used to treat it. Untreated diet had the highest AF levels at 36 ppb, followed by that which was treated with 250, 500, 750 ml Lemon juice/Kg feed at 28.1, 21.3, and 7.4 ppb, respectively. Growth performance variables assessed were also influenced by the amounts of residual AF levels in the diet. Birds fed diets with the lowest residual AF levels at 7.4 ppb had the best (p < 0.05) growth performance in all the variables, while the least (p < 0.05) was observed in birds fed untreated diet, followed by those that were fed diets treated with 250 and 500ml Lemon juice/Kg feed. It was concluded that Lemon juice was able to degrade AF in diets that had maize contaminated with AF, but the extent to which it inactivated it, depended on the amount of juiced used. Similarly, growth performance of birds fed diets with AF-contaminated maize treated with lemon juice was also dependent on the levels of residual AF in feeds after treatment, with the best performance observed in chickens fed diets treated with 750ml Lemon juice per Kg feed.