Influence of Mycostop Mycotoxin Adsorbents on Production, Oxidative Stress, and Economic Cost of Laying Hens Intoxicated with T-2 Toxin

Abstract

Mycotoxin contamination in poultry feed poses a significant threat to both production performance and animal health. Among various mycotoxins, the T-2 toxin stands out as particularly detrimental to laying hens, leading to decreased productivity and increased oxidative stress. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of two mycotoxin adsorbents, Mycostop Premium 2.0 and Mycostop Supreme, at a concentration of 2 kg/t of feed, in mitigating the adverse effects of T-2 toxin on laying hens’ production performance, nutritive and physical egg quality, oxidative stress levels, the occurrence of oral and tongue lesions, and economic cost of production. A total of 200 laying hens were randomly allocated to four dietary treatments: control T1 (basal diet without T-2 toxin or mycotoxin adsorbents), T2 (basal diet contaminated with 8 mg/kg of T-2 toxin), T3 (basal diet contaminated with 8 mg/kg of T-2 toxin and 2kg/t of feed Mycostop Premium 2.0), and T4 (basal diet contaminated with 8 mg/kg of T-2 toxin and 2 kg/t of feed Mycostop Supreme). The trial lasted for 56 days, during which production performance parameters, including feed intake, egg production, egg weight, and feed conversion ratio, were monitored. Additionally, nutritive and physical egg quality traits, such as shell strength, yolk color, albumen height, and Haugh unit, were assessed. Oxidative stress biomarkers, including malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were measured to evaluate the impact of mycotoxin adsorbents on oxidative stress levels in laying hens. Furthermore, the occurrence and severity of oral and tongue lesions were recorded to assess the potential protective effects of Mycostop Premium 2.0 and Mycostop Supreme against mycotoxin-induced oral health complications. In conclusion, findings of this research highlight the potential of mycotoxin adsorbents as valuable tools for safeguarding poultry health and optimizing productivity in mycotoxin-challenged environments