EFFECTS OF BETA-CAROTENE AND CANTHAXANTHIN ON AFLATOXICOSIS IN BROILERS

In 2 x 3 factorial experiments, 240 broiler chicks were fed diets cont aining 0, 0.01, and 0.02% beta-carotene or canthaxanthin with or witho ut 5 ppm aflatoxin to determine the effects of these two carotenoids o n the health and well-being of broilers subjected to aflatoxin poisoni ng. Neither beta-carotene nor canthaxanthin was effective at overcomin g the growth-depressing effects of aflatoxin. Relative liver weights w ere significantly higher in broilers receiving dietary aflatoxin in th e presence of beta-carotene but not canthaxanthin. beta-Carotene and c anthaxanthin had no effect on antibody production against infectious b ursal disease (IBD). Interestingly, secondary antibody production agai nst IBD was enhanced by the presence of aflatoxin in the diet. Canthax anthin significantly increased the concentrations of cholesterol, tota l protein, uric acid, and triglyceride, all of which were significantl y depressed by aflatoxin. beta-Carotene did not effect any of the meas ured blood analytes. There was a significant interaction between canth axanthin and aflatoxin with respect to creatine kinase activity. Creat ine kinase activity decreased as dietary canthaxanthin increased in th e presence of aflatoxin. The data suggest that beta-carotene is not ef fective at ameliorating aflatoxicosis in broiler chickens but that can thaxanthin may be somewhat effective with respect to certain clinical blood chemistry indicators.