Aflatoxins, the toxic fungi metabolites produced by Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus are potent natural contaminants of feed stuffs. Aflatoxin effects all species of animals and poultry resulting, depressed growth, production and immunity against diseases.

The importance of aflatoxin in the poultry industry lies in economics loss due to the effect of reduced adsorption, utilization and metabolism of fat and protein, by decreasing bone strength, lameness, lethargy and weakness of wings ataxia, refulled or curled feather, reduced amino acid and vitamin (riboflavin) absorption, impaired immunity resulting in increased susceptibility towards infectious diseases, poor feed conversion ratio, less weight gain and feed consumption and moderate to high mortality. In addition to these effects there may be reduced ability to produce antibodies in response to vaccination. Such immune related problems are extremely difficult to diagnose. An investigation was undertaken to study the comparative value of various adsorbents to minimize the effect of aflatoxin on the performance of broiler chicks.

Six experimental rations viz, A, B, C, D, E and F were prepared for the said purpose. Ration A served as negative control, Ration B, served as positive control having 100 ppb level of AFB 1. Ration C, AFB 1 @ 100 ppb and Sodium Bentonite @ 2% of the ration. Ration D, AFB 1 100 ppb and Myco-fix plus 1.0 kg/ton of feed. Ration E, AFB 1 @ 100 ppb and Myco-fix plus 2.50 kg/ton of feed. Ration F, AFB 1 @ 100 ppb and Myco-ad @ 2.0 kg/ton of feed (Commercial Adsorbents).

Two hundred and forty, day old broiler chicks were randomly divided into six groups having forty birds in each and which were further sub-divided into four replicates comprising of ten birds in each.

The body weight gain, feed consumption, and feed conversion ratio were recorded at the end of each week. The drooping feather percentage, leg deformities percentage, mortality percentage, postmortem lesions, bursal body weight ratio and dressing percentage were recorded at the end of experiment. However, the antibody titre for Newcastle disease vaccine was analyzed at 2lth, 28th, 35th, and 42nd day of the experiment. The experiment lasts for six weeks.

The results indicated highly significant differences (P < 0.05) of weight gain, feed consumption, and feed conversion ratio among all the groups, there was also significant differences (P<0.05) was observed among the values of dropping feather and dressing percentage, however there was no difference in leg deformities of different control and experimental groups. There was highest percentages of mortality and postmortem lesion in the experimental group F (Myco-ad) and positive control group B, (AFB 1, @100 ppb), than the groups, A, C, D and E. There was significant difference in the geometric mean titres among the groups while there was no difference in bursal body weight ration among the groups (P <0.05).

From the data of present study it can be concluded that group A (Negative control) showed the best performance among the experimental groups in all above mentioned parameters: In experimental group C (Sodium bentonite) gave a better affect on the performance of birds, rather than other groups placed on the commercial adsorbents (Myco-fix plus and Myco-ad).

The commercial adsorbent Myco-ad @ 2.0 kg/ton of feed had highly drastic effect on the health status and growing abilities of the birds. However, the use of Myco-fix plus (Commercial adsorbent) had some beneficial effect on experimental birds.

It is recommended that more research work should be conducted to investigate more suitable measures to minimize the effect of aflatoxin Bi, before final conclusion are drawn.