Dietary vitamin E in White Leghorn layer breeder hens: a strategy to combat aflatoxin B₁-induced damage

Figures & data

Table 1. Egg production (%) of breeder hens kept on AFB₁ contaminated feed with or without Vit E supplementation (Mean ± SD).

	During AFB1 and Vit E feeding period			After AFB1 and Vit E feeding period
Groups (AFB1 + Vit. E mg/kg feed)	Week 1	Week 2	Week 3	Week 4	Week 5
A (0 + 0)	80.36 ± 9.83^ab	82.14 ± 6.68^ab	78.57 ± 9.45^ab	80.00 ± 10.00^ab	82.86 ± 11.13^a
B (0 + 0.1)	83.93 ± 9.45^a	83.93 ± 9.45^a	85.71 ± 11.25^a	88.57 ± 10.69^a	80.00 ± 11.55^ab
C (0.1 + 0)	82.14 ± 12.20^a	71.43 ± 9.45^bc	73.21 ± 8.63^bc	77.14 ± 11.13^abc	75.71 ± 11.34^ab
D (0.5 + 0)	76.79 ± 8.63^ab	78.57 ± 6.10^ab	60.71 ± 8.63^de	67.14 ± 7.56^c	75.71 ± 9.76^ab
E (2.5 + 0)	73.21 ± 8.63^abc	66.07 ± 9.45^c	51.79 ± 11.25^ef	48.57 ± 10.69^d	72.86 ± 11.13^abc
F (5.0 + 0)	67.86 ± 12.20^bcd	30.36 ± 12.20^e	49.11 ± 7.59^f	34.29 ± 12.72^e	61.43 ± 10.69^c
G (10.0 + 0)	57.14 ± 18.90^cd	25.36 ± 6.68^f	0.000 ± 0.00^g	32.86 ± 4.88^f	38.57 ± 12.15^d
H (0.1 + 0.1)	82.14 ± 6.68^a	80.36 ± 6.68^ab	75.00 ± 10.21^bc	81.43 ± 9.00^ab	77.14 ± 9.51^ab
I (0.5 + 0.1)	80.36 ± 6.68^ab	71.43 ± 6.10^bc	69.64 ± 6.68^bcd	70.00 ± 10.00^bc	75.71 ± 5.35^ab
J (2.5 + 0.1)	78.57 ± 6.10^ab	53.57 ± 3.91^d	66.07 ± 9.45^cd	55.71 ± 7.87^d	75.71 ± 12.72^ab
K (5.0 + 0.1)	75.00 ± 10.21^abc	34.64 ± 12.20^d	50.89 ± 9.15^f	37.23 ± 11.55^e	68.57 ± 9.00^bc
L (10.0 + 0.1)	62.50 ± 17.68^cd	27.14 ± 9.83^f	0.00 ± 0.00^g	29.14 ± 11.13^f	40.00 ± 11.55^d

Values followed by different lower case letters within a column are significantly different from one another (P < 0.05).

Table 2. Aflatoxin B1 residues (ng/g) in the eggs obtained from the breeder hens kept on AFB₁ contaminated feed with or without Vit E supplementation (Mean ± SD).

	During AFB1 and Vit E feeding period			After AFB1 and Vit E feeding period
Groups (AFB1 + Vit. E mg/kg feed)	Week 1	Week 2	Week 3	Week 4	Week 5
A (0 + 0)	ND	ND	ND	ND	ND
B (0 + 0.1)	ND	ND	ND	ND	ND
C (0.1 + 0)	ND	ND	ND	ND	ND
D (0.5 + 0)	ND	ND	ND	ND	ND
E (2.5 + 0)	0.0333 ± 0.0115^c	0.0700 ± 0.0100^d	0.0533 ± 0.0115^e	ND	ND
F (5.0 + 0)	0.0633 ± 0.0115^c	0.3167 ± 0.0351^c	0.1933 ± 0.0208^d	0.0433 ± 0.0115^b	ND
G (10.0 + 0)	0.2333 ± 0.0404^a	0.4033 ± 0.0404^b	0.3133 ± 0.0306^b	0.1333 ± 0.0404^a	0.0133 ± 0.001
H (0.1 + 0.1)	ND	ND	ND	ND	ND
I (0.5 + 0.1)	ND	ND	ND	ND	ND
J (2.5 + 0.1)	0.0567 ± 0.0153^c	0.0867 ± 0.0153^d	0.0467 ± 0.0115^e	ND	ND
K (5.0 + 0.1)	0.1133 ± 0.0252^b	0.3167 ± 0.0451^c	0.2433 ± 0.0306^c	0.0467 ± 0.0115^b	ND
L (10.0 + 0.1)	0.2433 ± 0.0351^a	0.4667 ± 0.0351^a	0.3667 ± 0.0351^a	0.1533 ± 0.0306^a	0.0167 ± 0.0001

Values followed by different lower case letters within a column are significantly different from one another (P < 0.05).

Figure 1. Comparison of rate of haemolysis. Values shown are for the time point at which 50% haemolysis was observed using the free radical generator AAPH. All values shown are with RBCs obtained from breeder hens fed AFB₁ ± Vit E for 3 weeks. Values shown are mean ± standard deviation from eight hens/group. All groups (Groups A to L) were fed diets containing various amounts of AFB₁ in the presence/absence of Vit E; specific exposure levels associated with each group are indicated in Tables 1 and 2. Value significantly different from control at P ≤ 0.05 are indicated.

Figure 2. Comparison of hatchability in different groups. All values shown are the percentage of dead embryos from breeder hens fed AFB1 ± Vit E for 3 weeks. All groups (Groups A to L) were fed diets containing various amounts of AFB1 in the presence/absence of Vit E; specific exposure levels associated with each group are indicated in Tables 1 and 2.

Figure 3. Embryo at 11 days of incubation from the hens: (3a) fed a diet having 0 mg kg⁻¹ AFB1 and 0 mg kg⁻¹ Vit E; and (3b) fed a diet amended with 10 mg AFB1 kg⁻¹ for 3 weeks. Maxillary retrognathism, mandibular hypoplasia, and anophthalmia (bilateral) are visible.