An experiment was carried out to assess the efficacy bentonite clay supplementation in the diet of white pekin ducks, experimentally fed with aflatoxin B1 contaminated diet (96 ppb) on production performance, and biochemical parameters including oxidative stress indices. The experimental birds (n=72) were provided with standard duck feed and ad libitum water. The grower white pekin ducks, aged 9 weeks, were randomly divided into six groups containing twelve birds in each group. The birds of group I served as healthy controls and was fed with basal diet without addition of toxin or bentonite clay. The birds of group II were provided with a diet with toxin level of 48 µg/kg of feed. The grower ducklings of group III to VI were fed with a diet containing 96 µg of toxin/kg of feed. The experimental feed was provided from 9th week of age (grower stage) for a period of 6 weeks. The birds of group IV, V and VI were provided with feed containing 96 µg aflatoxin /kg of feed along with bentonite clay at the dose rate of 1, 2 or 3g of clay/ kg of feed, respectively. The birds fed with aflatoxin-treated diet showed decreased body weight gain, and there was significant (P<0.05) decrease in body weight gain by 4th week of experiment in group II and III. However, the body weight was significantly (P<0.05) higher in bentonite clay supplemented group IV, V, and VI, as compared to toxin-exposed positive group II and III. Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) increased significantly in Group II and III by 4th week. At the end of 6th week, group II and III showed significantly higher FCR. Significantly decreased serum triglyceride level and increased cholesterol level was recorded in group II and III in comparison to all other groups on 4th week. There was significant decrease in creatinine level in group IV, V, and VI compared to group II and III on completion of 4th week of the experiment. The activity of GGT increased significantly in all aflatoxin exposed groups. The feeding of aflatoxin contaminated feed increased the erythrocytic malonaldehyde (MDA) production and activity of superoxide dismutase and catalase. It is concluded from the experiment that bentonite clay supplementation in the diet at the dose rate of 3g/ kg of feed reduced the toxic effects of aflatoxin on production performance and oxidative stress in white pekin ducks.

The present experiment was carried out to examine the effect of aflatoxin exposure through experimentally contaminated feed (48 or 98 μg/kg of feed) on hematological parameters, and gross and histopathology of liver, kidneys, thymus, spleen and bursa of fabricious in ducks, and to assess the prophylactic efficacy of bentonite clay at three different dose levels (1, 2 or 3g/kg of feed) in protecting the birds from the toxic effects of aflatoxin. The experiment was carried out on 9 weeks old white pekin ducks for a period of six weeks. The experimental ducks (n=72) were randomly divided into six equal groups. Group 1 birds served as healthy controls and were continued with basal diet without addition of toxin or bentonite clay. The birds of Group 2 were provided with a diet containing 48 μg toxin/kg of feed. The diet of the grower ducks of Group 3 to 6 were added with 96 μg of toxin/kg of feed. The birds of Group 4, 5, and 6 were provided with aflatoxin-contaminated feed and the diet was supplemented with bentonite clay @ 1, 2 or 3g/kg of feed, respectively. The hematological parameters such as Hb, PCV, TLC and Differential Leukocyte Count were estimated at 4th and 6th week post exposure. Haemoglobin, PCV and TLC reduced significantly in ducks fed with aflatoxin-contaminated feed. The birds fed with 48 μg aflatoxin/kg of feed had moderate gross lesions in different internal organs. The feed supplementation with bentonite clay in aflatoxin-exposed birds reduced the inflammation of hepatocytes.