Journal of Applied Biosciences (J. Appl. Biosci.) [ISSN 1997 - 5902]
Volume 4: 103 - 107. Published April 2008.
DETERMINATION OF ANTINUTRITIONAL
FACTORS AND PHYTOTOXIN CONTAMINATION OF POULTRY FEEDS
OKAFOR P.N.*^, OKECHUKWU L.M.* and UZUKWU M.**
*Department of Biochemistry, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike. PMB 7267 Umuahia, Abia
State, Nigeria; **College of Veterinary Medicine, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Nigeria.
^Corresponding author email: pnokafor@yahoo.com
ABSTRACT
Objective: During late 2004 to early 2005, there were outbreaks of various disease conditions resulting in liver disorders and other non-specific pathological changes in the internal organs of
poultry raised in Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike Poultry Farm. Differential elimination of all possible infectious diseases left the possibility of non-infectious diseases and
toxicities associated with feeds. This study was carried out to investigate the non-infectious agents.
Methodology and results: Feed samples from the University Poultry Farm and from the major animal feed companies operating in Umuahia area were analysed for toxic constituents (phytotoxins). The results identified cyanogens, nitrate, nitrite and trypsin inhibitors as possible factors that contributed to the poor health of poultry at the University farm. Other anti-nutritional factors detected in the feeds included phytates, tannins and saponins.
Conclusion and application of findings: The presence of potentially toxic compounds and antinutritional factors in the feeds appear to have caused reduced feed availability, protein synthesis and
compromised the immune system of the birds with concomitant predisposition of the birds to various
disease conditions. These findings demonstrate the need to ensure that anti-nutritional factors in poultry feeds are reduced to non-lethal thresholds through adequate processing methods.
Keywords: antinutritional factors, poultry feeds, toxins, Nigeria.
FULL PAPER [PDF AVAILABLE HERE]
