Effect of Thunbergia laurifolia leaves on the growth performance, nutrient digestibility and liver antioxidant enzymes of broilers fed mycotoxin-contaminated feed

Abstract

Context Contamination of feedstuff with mixed mycotoxins is one of the frequent problems found in broiler chicken production, especially in tropical countries with a hot and humid climate, such as Thailand. Aims An in vivo study was conducted to examine the effects of Thunbergia laurifolia Linn. (TL) leaves on the growth performance, nutrient digestibility and antioxidant enzyme activity of broiler chicks fed naturally mycotoxin-contaminated feed. Methods In total, 375 1-day-old male Arbor Acre broilers were allotted into five experimental groups, with five replicates each (15 chicks per replicate). The experimental groups were mycotoxin-free basal corn–soybean diet (T1, control), diet with mixed mycotoxins (aflatoxin, fumonisins, tricothecene and ochratoxin, T2), T2 diet but supplemented with 1% (w/w) yeast glucomannan (GM, T3), T2 diet but supplemented with 2% (w/w) TL (T4) and T2 diet but supplemented with both 2% (w/w) TL and 1% (w/w) GM (T5). Feed intake, bodyweight gain, feed conversion ratio, mortality rate, nutrient digestibility and the activity of antioxidant enzymes were measured at Days 21 and 42. Key results Broilers in T4 and T5 groups had a significantly (P < 0.05) higher nutrient digestibility than those in the other groups at Day 42, while broilers in the T3, T4 and T5 groups had a significantly (P < 0.05) higher glutathione peroxidase activity than those in the other groups. There was no difference in the growth performance among the groups, except chicks that received the mixed mycotoxin-contaminated feed had a higher feed conversion ratio and ate more feed than did those in the control group. Conclusion It is concluded that 2% TL and 1% GM helped ameliorate the adverse effect of mycotoxin, improving nutrient digestibility and increased the glutathione peroxidase activity, but without a significant change in growth rate. Implications Herbal plant TL can be used as an alternative mycotoxin adsorbent in broiler production.