Multifunctional additives in broilers and mycotoxin binders for aflatoxin B1 in dairy products

The presentation of the Alquermix multifunctional line and the Alquerfeed Antitox binding capacity of Aflatoxin B1 in goats were the main conferences in the third session of the Biovet International Symposium, held on May 27-28 at the Chamber of Commerce of Tarragona, Spain.

In one hand, the first conference described the results of an assay made with broilers at the Universidad Científica del Sur’s (UCSUR) experimental farm in Lima, Peru. In the in vivo trial it was evaluated the use of Alquermix, a multifunctional product of Biovet S.A., and its effect on the improvement of production parameters and the biometry of the digestive organs. On the other hand, Dr. Nahum Ayala Soldado, of Universidad de Córdoba, presented a trial carried out at the experimental farm of the Cordovan University. In this case, the assay evaluated the binding capacity of Alquerfeed Antitox and the reduction of Aflatoxin M1 in milk.

Use of Alquermix to replace conventional additives

Dr. Connie Gallardo of UCSUR presented the conference about Alquermix. The aim of the trial was to compare the effectiveness of this multifunctional product in relation to conventional additives. It should be noted that Alquermix can replace nine additives usually included in the premixes, and can also be adapted to the needs of each productive stage and species.

Specifically in this trial, aspects such as production parameters, carcass performance and percentage of abdominal fat, biometrics of digestives, macroscopic lesions of digestive organs and the integrity of intestinal villi and intestinal crypts were compared. 248 broilers Cobb 500 were used. Two treatments were carried out, each one with 4 repetitions in a total of 8 experimental units with 31 broilers in each one. The animals of the control batch were fed with basal diet with conventional additives; the ones of the treated batch were fed with a basal diet supplemented with Alquermix.

Concerning productive parameters, the results showed that the batch supplemented with Alquermix presented greater weight gain with less consumption of feed; so, it obtained a better conversion rate. In addition, it presented better uniformity in both start and end phases.

Regarding biometrics of the digestive organs: birds in the control batch achieved greater liver and pancreas weight and more intestinal mucus, facts that can be attributed to higher overall intestinal weight. Whereas the batch with Alquermix presented lower relative liver and intestinal weight, which is correlated with a greater efficacy of these organs.

Alquerfeed Antitox to reduce Aflatoxin M1

The professor of Universidad de Córdoba, Nahum Ayala, presented the conference entitled ‘Alquerfeed Antitox: Binding capacity of Aflatoxin B1 in goat’. Before starting with the explanation of the trial, Dr. Ayala highlighted the importance of aflatoxins. They are considered to be the most important mycotoxins in animal and human health, because of their hepatotoxic, immunosuppressive and carcinogenic effects. The presence of these toxins on feed impacts negatively on the production parameters and can produce alterations in the organs.

Ruminants can consume feed contaminated by Aflatoxin B1, which once inside the animal it is metabolized in aflatoxin M1. Thus, the contaminated milk produced by these animals can represent a risk for public health.

In this context, the trial gave an insight on the use of the Alquerfeed Antitox mycotoxin binder in the reduction of Aflatoxin M1 excretion in goat ,and its effects on the productive parameters. Three batches with 6 goats eachwere used: one negative control batch (without contaminated feed and without A. Antitox); one positive control batch (with contaminated feed with Aflatoxin B1); and one treated batch with A. Antitox (contaminated feed with Aflatoxin B1+A. Antitox). In order to evaluate the results, milk samples were taken during the 28 days of the study.

The results showed that  Aflatoxin M1 concentration in the batch supplemented with A. Antitox was lower than in the positive control batch. No significant differences were found in the production and composition of the milk between the negative batch and the treated one. So, it demonstrates that A. Antitox has no negative effects on the production parameters in goats farming.