Abstract:
This research was aimed at evaluating the growth performance of wistar rats fed on enzymatically detoxified aflatoxin B1 maize diet.
In vivo research was carried on 20 male wistar rats, grouped into groups of five rats per cage for six weeks and fed on maize diet enzymatically detoxified at different time intervals of 0,4,12,24 hours, growth performance was determined using the parameters such as feed intake, weight gain and feed conversion ratio.
Results; mean feed intake of the control and treatment groups, Week 1 and week 4 was significatively different for the treatment and control groups with p values of 0.004 and 0.007 respectively. Week 2, 3, and 5 had no significant difference among the treatment and control the groups with p values of 0.06, 0.19, 0.12 respectively that where greater than the 5%. In week one, group D had the highest feed intake of 0.027, followed group B 0.024, group C 0.023 and group A 0. 017. In week two, group D 0.027, group B 0.024, group A 0.023, group C 0.022. In week three group D 0.024 group B 0.018, group C 0.017, group A 0.016. In week four, group D 0.023, group B 0.023, group C 0.018 and group A 0.016. In week five group D 0.021, B 0.019, group C and A group with 0.017. The mean weight gain of the control and treatment groups had no significant difference in all the five weeks of research with P values of 0.959, 0.994, 0.951, 0.821, and 0.960 respectively. In week one A group had the highest mean weight gain of 0.068, group B 0.062, group C 0.059 and group D 0. 057. In week two, group B 0.062, group D 0.059 and group C and group A had 0.058. In week three group D 0.059, group C with 0.0585, group B 0.058 and A group 0.052. In week four, group D and B 0.059 and group C and A 0.052. In week five group D 0.058, group B 0.057, and group C had 0.057 and group A had 0. 049.
Findings of the study identified that, a group of rats fed on enzymatically detoxified AFB1 maize diet for 24hrs increased on the feed intake and weight gain growth, thus improving growth performance. Therefore, degradation of AFB1 contaminated maize by ligninolytic enzymes from spent mushroom substrate for time interval of 24hours is safe and effective.
Since this research was carried out on male wistar rats, I recommend a further study on the effect of enzymatically detoxified AFB1 maize diet on growth performance in other animal species.
