Mitigating Potential of Three Phytogenic Feed Additives in Broilers Exposed to Dietary Aflatoxin

A feeding trial was researched to evaluate the mitigating potential of three phytogenic additives on performance, visceral organs, hematological and some biochemical indices of broilers exposed to dietary aflatoxin. A total number of 192 one-day-old unsexed Abor Acre broiler chicks were used in a 2 × 4 factorial design of two levels of aflatoxin (0 and 500 ppb) and three different phytogenic powdered additives (Garlic, Ginger and Turmeric) at 2 g/kg and control diet. Phytogenic additives of ginger and turmeric (T3 and T4) to diet without aflatoxin increased the feed conversion ratio and the cost of raising 1kg of live broiler chicken (P 0.0001). Dietary aflatoxin in broiler chickens reduced the performance and digestibility of crude protein and crude fiber while phytogenic additives intervention improved the feed intake, weight gain, feed conversion ratio, cost of producing 1kg of broilers, digestibility of crude protein and crude fiber (P 0.0001). The inclusion of aflatoxin affected the values of liver, kidney, proventriculus, bursa of fabricius, intestine, white blood cells (WBC), neutrophils, red blood cell (RBC), hemoglobin (HGB), packed cell volume (PCV), platelet, urea, creatinine, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase. Inclusion of phytogenic additives (garlic, ginger and turmeric) at 2 g/kg to the diet with aflatoxin improved the values of the parameters. The study concluded that aflatoxin in diets induced detrimental effects on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, hematological and serum biochemical indices and there was a mitigating effect of the phytogenic additives in case of aflatoxicosis.