Abstract
A study was undertaken to compare two levels of sodium bentonite as a preventive measure to minimize the effect of aflaloxin (B1 ) on the performance of broiler chicks. One hundred and twenty day-old broiler chicks were distributed at xmdoru into 12 replicates of 10 chicks each and were allotted 4 rations i.e. A (no bentonite, no aflatoxin), B (aflatoxin 100 ppb), C (aflatoxin 'Otl ppb + sodium bentonite (0) 0.75%) and D (aflatoxin 100 ppb + sodium bentonite ((l~ 1.5%), respectively. Significant increase in body weight (20.95 to 28.5 I%) was observed in birds fed ration having sodium bentonite @ 1.5%. In aflatoxin coiltainiug ration (B). feed consumption was significantly reduced as compared to other rations. Feed conversion ratio was improved per unit gain on ration A than other rations. Significantly better feed conversion ratio (2.0 I) was found in case of chicks fed ration D compared to those on ration A (2.04). C (2.15) and B (2.211). Use of bentonite at 1.5% improved the profit marginally. Key words: aflatoxin. bentonite, broiler feed
