Elimination of aflatoxin B1 in broiler chicks by clinoptilolite

During 19-day study with broiler poultry, broiler chicks were fed diet containing clinoptilolite as supplement at the concentrations of 3% and 5%. At the same time, the following parameters were observed: activity of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and body weight of broiler chicks. ALP activity in broiler chicks (groups G4, G5, and G6) fed aflatoxin B₁ was enhanced during all days of the observation in comparison with the control broiler chicks G1. Significant increase in ALP (P ≤ 0.05) was recorded from day 42 of the age onwards in group G4 of broiler chicks in comparison with the control group G1. Significant increase in ALP (P ≤ 0.01) was recorded from day 42 of the age onwards in group G5 of broiler chicks in comparison with the broiler chicks in group G2 and significant increase in ALP (P ≤ 0.01) was recorded onwards in group G6 of broiler chicks in comparison with the broiler chicks in group G3. Significant increase in ALP (P ≤ 0.05) was recorded from day 49 of the age onwards in group G5 of broiler chicks in comparison with the broiler chicks in group G2 and in group G6 of broiler chicks in comparison with the broiler chicks in group G3. The body weight of broiler chicks from group G2 (supplementation with 3% clinoptilolite) was 229.33 g higher in comparison with the control group G1. In group G3 fed feed mixture supplement with 5% concentration of clinoptilolite, the final mean body weight was only 179.33 g higher in comparison with the control group G1. The results of our study suggest that clinoptilolite as mineral non-nutritional supplement in feed mixture may protect from the effect of aflatoxin B₁ in young growing broilers. The supplementation of poultry diet with 3% clinoptilolite proved to be a suitable method to reduce the risk of the adverse effects of aflatoxin B₁ on poultry organism.