Reduced Poultry Mortality

Submitted by Aspergillus Administrator on 3 April 2013

It has been found that by treating maize with aflasafe (a commercial product containing strains of Aspergillus that do not produce aflatoxins), a bio-control product for controlling aflatoxin, it can reduce the mortality rates of poultry by 43.9% in addition to other benefits.

Scientists from the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and the University of Ibadan found that treatment also led to a 10.4% drop in food intake and a 3.3% increase in feed conversion ratio when compared to typical methods within the industry.

Produced by toxigenic strains of Aspergillus flavus, aflatoxins have become a menace in developing countries, contaminating about 25 per cent of grains produced in the region. Aftermaths of consuming aflatoxin-contaminated grains include stunting in children, liver cancer, and even death.

The use of aflasafe treated feed will mean that poultry farmers will no longer need to use aflatoxin binders in feeds and it can provide a cheaper and and safer solution within the poultry sector.