Effect of a clay-based toxin binder on productivity, egg quality, and intestinal histomorphology in laying hens fed diets contaminated with aflatoxin B1, T-2 toxin, and ochratoxin A

This study aimed to evaluate the impact of dietary mycotoxin contamination (aflatoxin B₁, ochratoxin A, and T-2 toxin) and the addition of a clay-based toxin binder on the performance, egg quality, blood biochemistry, and jejunal morphology of laying hens. A total of 120 ISA Brown laying hens (40 weeks old; average body weight 1.625 ± 0.05 kg) were randomly divided into four dietary treatments: basal diet without mycotoxin or toxin binder (CTRL), mycotoxin-contaminated diet (MYCO), basal diet with toxin binder (CTRL+TB), and mycotoxin-contaminated diet supplemented with toxin binder (MYCO+TB). The analyzed mycotoxin concentrations in the contaminated diets ranged from 122.54 to 125.41 µg/kg for AFB1, 230.94 to 235.40 µg/kg for OTA, and 137.09 to 141.21 µg/kg for T-2 toxin. Each treatment consisted of six replicates with five birds per replicate. Mycotoxin contamination significantly reduced feed intake and egg production ( P < 0.01 ), while supplementation with the toxin binder in the MYCO+TB group restored feed intake and partially improved egg production. Egg weight, egg mass, and feed conversion ratio were not significantly affected. However, yolk color declined markedly in MYCO hens (P < 0.001 ) and toxin binder supplementation improved yolk color. Albumen height was significantly reduced in the MYCO group ( P = 0.020 ), with no improvement following toxin binder supplementation. Blood biochemical analyses revealed decreased levels of calcium ( P = 0.002 ), magnesium, and zinc ( P < 0.001 ) in the MYCO group. The addition of the toxin binder effectively restored calcium and magnesium levels, but not zinc. Dietary treatment had no significant effect on jejunal histomorphology. In conclusion, contamination of mycotoxins impaired laying performance, egg quality, and mineral status. Supplementation with a clay-based toxin binder mitigated several of these adverse effects, particularly in feed intake, egg production, yolk color, and mineral balance. © 2026 The Authors.