Abstract:
This experiment was conducted to determine the effect of calcium bentonite clay supplementation in diet on egg production, egg quality and immune system of laying hens. A total of 144 Lohmann brown classic hens (22 weeks old) were divided into 4 groups of 6 replications with 6 hens each. There were 4 experimental diets: (1) Basal diet (Positive control), (2) Basal diet +0.25% calcium bentonite clay, (3) Basal diet+200 ppb aflatoxin B1 (negative control) and (4) Basal diet+200 ppb aflatoxin B1 and +0.25% calcium bentonite clay. Supplementation of aflatoxin B1 200 ppb in the diet contributes to decreased body weight and egg quality (eggshell color, shell weight, and shell thickness) and increased aflatoxin B1 accumulation in eggs and shortened length of the reproductive organs of laying hens. The Newcastle Disease (ND) antibody titer was decreased and the Alkaline phosphatase (ALP), Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST) and Heterophil / Lymphocyte ratio (H / L ratio) in the blood were increased. However, supplementation calcium bentonite in the control group without supplementation with aflatoxin B1 showed no effect on egg production, egg quality, reproductive organs and ND and Infectious Bronchitis (IB) antibody titers of laying hens. Interestingly, supplementation of 0.25% calcium bentonite clay in the diet with 200 ppb aflatoxin B1 increased body weight, egg quality and improved reproductive organs. Aflatoxin B1 accumulation in eggs was reduced with calcium bentonite clay supplementation. Improve immunity, resulting increase ND antibody titer values, lower ALP, AST and H/L ratio in the blood of laying hens. Furthermore, supplementation 0.25% calcium bentonite clay was found to bind aflatoxin, thereby reducing the effects on laying hen production such as eggshell color and length of oviduct.