Effects of hydrated sodium calcium aluminosilicate (HSCAS) on aflatoxicosis in broilers

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the toxic effects of aflatoxin (AF) on growth performance of broilers and to determine the preventive efficacy of HSCAS (hydrated sodium calcium aluminosilicate, Improved Mildbond-TX). In total, one hundred and twelve 1-d-old broilers chicks divided into four pen replicates of seven chicks each were assigned to each of four diatery treatments. 1) basal diet containing neither AF/kg diet nor HSCAS (control); 2) basal diet supplemented with 0.5% HSCAS; 3) basal diet supplemented with 2.5 mg AF/kg diet and 4) basal diet supplemented with 2.5 mg AF/kg diet and 0.5% HSCAS. The chicks were individually weighed on a weekly basis, feed consumption and body weight gain were recorded weekly. The trial period was 3 weeks and broilers were maintained on 24-h continuous light schedule and ad libitum access to diets and water. Basal diet supplemented with 0.5% HSCAS did not negatively affect body weight gain, serum chemistry, feed consumption and organ weight, or cause pathological changes. Body weight (BW) was significantly (P