EFFECT OF ASTAXANTHIN SUPPLEMENTATION ON MITIGATING THE NEGATIVE IMPACT OF AFLATOXIN-CONTAMINATED DIETS ON BROILER PRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE

Abstract

This study assessed the effects of astaxanthin and vitamin E supplementation in broiler diets contaminated with aflatoxin B1. One hundred fifty birds were randomly assigned to five treatment groups, each with three replicates: T1 (control, basal diet), T2 (basal diet plus 300 ppb aflatoxin B1), T3 (basal diet plus 300 ppb aflatoxin B1 and 0.750 mg/kg astaxanthin), T4 (basal diet plus 300 ppb aflatoxin B1 and 1.5 mg/kg astaxanthin), and T5 (basal diet plus 300 ppb aflatoxin B1 and 5 mg/kg vitamin E). During the first period, aflatoxin exposure significantly (P ≤ 0.05) reduced productive performance, and neither astaxanthin nor vitamin E supplementation had a positive effect at this stage.

In the second period (22–42 days), astaxanthin supplementation mitigated the negative effects of aflatoxin, while vitamin E did not demonstrate a beneficial role. Feed intake was significantly lower (P ≤ 0.05) in T3 and T4 compared to T2 during the first period. The feed conversion ratio was significantly (P ≤ 0.05) increased in T2 and T5 during the third and fourth weeks compared to T1. Relative growth rate declined in T2, T3, T4, and T5 during the first period compared to T1. T1 exhibited significantly (P≤0.05) higher production index (634.0) and economic efficiency index (705.4), whereas T5 had the lowest values. These findings indicate that astaxanthin is a promising feed additive for enhancing poultry health and performance under oxidative stress induced by mycotoxins, and it is more effective than vitamin E in counteracting the adverse effects of aflatoxins.