Aflatoxin is one of the most frequent mycotoxins present in feed worldwide. Ducks are about 200 times more sensitive than chickens because ducks have a different mycotoxin metabolism than other species. Ducks have a greater bioactivation activity of aflatoxin and less detoxification and elimination of this mycotoxin than broilers.

Aflatoxin is included in the amino alcohol group of mycotoxins. It is hepatotoxic and, therefore, affects all liver functions, such as the metabolism of nutrients in the diet, as well as protein synthesis and immune effectors. Therefore, affected animals may suffer a decrease in productivity and immunosuppression.

There are different studies evaluating the effects of aflatoxin contamination of duck feed at different mycotoxin concentrations:

• Weight gain and dietary protein utilization are more affected in ducks than in chickens when fed with aflatoxin contaminated diet at 50 ppb (Ostrowski-Meissner, 1983).
• Aflatoxin concentrations above 60 ppb reduce duck growth at 21 days of age. At 120 ppb, the weight gain is of 52.9% compared to an uncontaminated diet (Bintvihok, 2001).
• The digestibility of crude protein is reduced by 8-13% in aflatoxin contaminated feed at 20-40 ppb (Grenier and Applegate, 2012).

Therefore, it is important to carry out a quality control of the feed and raw materials, as well as adding a mycotoxin binder in feed.

The following trial indicates the results obtained after administering a mycotoxin binder from the first day of life to 35 days of age of the ducklings.

ASSESSMENT OF THE EFICACY OF A MYCOTOXIN BINDER TO NEUTRALIZE THE EFFECT OF AFLATOXINS IN DUCKS  

The trial evaluated the effect of a mycotoxin binder based on Silicoglycidol in ducklings fed with aflatoxin contaminated diet at concentration of 75 ppb.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

120 ducks of the Pekin breed were distributed in two batches:

• BATCH 1 – WITHOUT BINDER: Animals fed contaminated diet with aflatoxin at a concentration of 75 ppb.
• BATCH 2 – WITH BINDER: Animals fed aflatoxin contaminated diet (75 ppb) + Silicoglicidol (mycotoxin binder at 0.5 kg/t).

Weight, feed intake and feed conversion were evaluated weekly. The relative weight of the liver of birds was evaluated on the last day of the trial (35 days-old ducks).

RESULTS

CONCLUSIONS

The inclusion in feed of a Silicoglycidol-based mycotoxin binder allowed to achieve better results in ducks fed a diet contaminated with mycotoxins.

The batch that received the mycotoxin binder obtained better weight (+66 g/bird), better feed conversion rate (-1.06%), and a lower relative weight of the liver (-4.72%). A lower liver relative weight is related to a better status and efficiency of the organ.

Mycotoxin binder based on Silicoglycidol is commercially available under the name “Alquerfeed Antitox“.