Aflatoxin-Antioxidant Effects on Growth of Young Chicks

Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), an antioxidant, was provided to chicks at 8 X, 30 X and 80 X the normal concentrations in their feed beginning at 1 day of age and continuing for the next 6 weeks. The ability of these birds to resist the adverse effects of dietary aflatoxin (3000 ppb, beginning Day 8) was measured by weight gain and feed efficiency over the 6-week period of study. Birds on aflatoxin-contaminated feed did not gain weight as rapidly or as efficiently as birds on uncontaminated feed. Depression of growth caused by aflatoxin was significantly less in birds given BHT than in those fed the diet not containing antioxidant.