Chick Edema Disease Syndrome in Young Turkey Poults

Two feeding bioassays were conducted to study the mortality pattern, incidence of edema and ascites formation and plasma composition of turkey poults fed diets containing varying levels of toxic fat (fat contaminated with polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins) and/or salt. No significant changes in plasma concentrations of electrolyte and total protein and packed cell volume were observed in slaughtered poults fed diets containing toxic fat compared with poults fed a normal diet. However, a positive dose-response relationship between levels of dietary toxic fat (0,2 and 5%) and incidence of mortality with edema, ascites and hydropericardium was observed in poults fed diets containing 1% salt. The toxic effects of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins were accentuated by increasing the level of salt (0.5, 1 and 3%) in the diet. Mortality started at nine days of age and increased on days 10 and 11. The present experiments demonstrated that gross pathological changes similar to those reported for “chick edema disease” caused by feeding polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins, could also be produced in young turkey poults. The etiology of the toxic effects of these organic compounds in edema formation is discussed.     

Effect of oral Escherichia coli inoculation on performance of young turkeys

A strain of Escherichia coli isolated from the yolk sac of stunted turkey poults was administered orally to day-old large white poults. Poults were inoculated with either 0.1 ml of sterile broth or 0.1 ml of a 10(-2) dilution of a 24-hr E. coli culture containing 3.4 x 10(8) viable bacteria per ml. Two levels of dietary protein (28 or 22%) were fed from 1 day to 3 weeks of age. Following E. coli inoculation of 3.4 x 10(5) viable bacteria at day one, body weight gain and feed consumption from 0 to 3 weeks of age were numerically increased 4.5 and 2.1%, respectively, and feed efficiency was significantly increased 2.4%. E. coli had a greater effect on performance of poults fed the 28% protein diet than on poults fed the 22% protein diet. Metabolism studies, conducted from 7 to 10 and from 17 to 20 days postinoculation, showed no significant changes in the measurements of nutrient utilization due to E. coli other than a 17% increase in nitrogen retention from 17 to 20 days by those poults fed the 28% protein diet.     

The toxic effects of saline drinking water on young turkey poults.

Turkey poults were offered ad libitum a diet containing 2.5 g salt/kg and tap water containing, 0, 90 or 105 mn NaCl to drink from 1 to 12 d of age. 2. High mortality with oedbema and ascites occurred mainly from 5 to 8 d in poults given the saline solutions. Mortality seemed to be related to salt and water intakes. 3. Plasma and body composition indicated abnormal retention of salt and water in poults younger than 12 d of age offered hypotonic saline. 4. In a second experiment using the same diet poults were offered hypotonic saline (105 mn NaCl in tap water) from 5, 9 or 13 d of age. High mortality with oedema and ascites was only observed when saline was given from 5 or 9 d. 5. The results suggest that from about 5 to 10 d of age there is a relative functional renal insufficiency which causes susceptibility to the toxic effects of saline water.     

Influence of exogenous T4 on body weight, feed consumption, T4 levels, and myocardial glycogen in furazolidone-fed turkey poults.

Ten turkey poults each were placed in one of four groups: control, thyroxine (T4), furazolidone (FZ), and FZ + T4. Thyroxine (T4), at a concentration of 1 ppm, was included in the ration of poults fed T4 and FZ + T4, and furazolidone (FZ), at a concentration of 700 ppm, was included in the ration of poults fed FZ and FZ + T4 from 2 to 5 weeks of age. Levels of plasma T4 decreased significantly (P less than or equal to 0.05) between 2 and 5 weeks in control and FZ poults. At 5 weeks, plasma T4 levels were significantly (P less than or equal to 0.05) lower in FZ poults than in control poults and significantly (P less than or equal to 0.05) lower in the FZ + T4 poults than in the T4 poults. Exogenous administration of T4 had no effect on development of the round heart syndrome or on body weight, but significantly increased feed consumption in FZ-fed poults during weeks 4 (P less than or equal to 0.05) and 5 (P less than or equal to 0.01). Inclusion of T4 in the ration increased plasma levels of the hormone 12x in both T4 and FZ + T4 poults and significantly (P less than or equal to 0.05) increased myocardial glycogen content in T4 poults but not in FZ + T4 poults.     

Effect of Dietary Lactose on the Productive Performance of Young Turkeys

Studies were conducted to assess the performance of turkeys fed diets containing lactose. Study 1 consisted of 96, mixed-sex turkey poults that were housed in battery cages and fed diets containing 0 (8% cornstarch), 0.5, 1, 2, 4, or 8% lactose from 0 to 6 wk. Study 2 used 360, mixed-sex turkey poults that were raised in floor pens and fed a commercial diet and diets containing 0 (4% starch), 0.5, 1, 2, or 4% lactose from 0 to 6 wk. Diets and water were offered ad libitum throughout both trials. The objectives were 1) to determine the effect of lactose on turkey performance and 2) to establish the optimum level for lactose inclusion in diets. In Study 1, feed intake, BW, fecal ammonia and nitrogen, and feed efficiency were determined. Diet composition, BW, feed intake, total body and carcass composition, cecal pH, volatile fatty acids (VFA) and lactic acid were measured in Study 2. Turkeys consuming the 4% lactose diet gained the most weight (P < 0.01) compared with other treatments in Study 1, and lactose improved feed efficiency. In Study 2, all lactose diets resulted in heavier BW (P < 0.05) compared with the commercial diet. Turkeys consuming diets with 0.5, 1, 2 or 4% lactose had less total body fat compared with turkeys consuming a commercial or 0% lactose diet (P < 0.05).     

Effects of dietary supplementation with vitamin C or vitamin E on cardiac lipid peroxidation and growth performance in broilers at risk of developing ascites syndrome

OBJECTIVE: To assess effects of high dietary amounts of vitamin C or vitamin E and oxidative stress on the heart and growth performance of broilers maintained at an altitude of 2,200 m above sea level. ANIMALS: 360 chicks (1-day-old broilers). PROCEDURE: Birds were randomly assigned to 3 groups (120 chicks/group). Each group of birds was fed a specific diet (control group, basal diet containing 12 mg of vitamin E (DL-alpha-tocopherol acetate)/kg of feed without additional ascorbic acid; vitamin E group, basal diet supplemented with 75 mg of vitamin E/kg of feed; and vitamin C group, basal diet supplemented with 400 mg of ascorbic acid/kg of feed) throughout the entire 7 weeks of the study. Feed consumption and body weight of chicks were recorded on a weekly basis. Nine randomly selected birds from each group were euthanatized each week. Remaining birds were euthanatized at the end of the study. Samples of cardiac tissues were obtained to measure thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), an indicator of oxidative stress. RESULTS: Vitamin E-supplemented diets resulted in better growth performance, lower rates of feed conversion, and lower TBARS content. Vitamin C-supplemented diets resulted in lower feed consumption and lower rates of feed conversion. When used separately, neither of the vitamins had any effect on mortality attributable to ascites syndrome. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: It is recommended that diets supplemented with vitamin C, vitamin E, or both be fed to broilers maintained at an altitude of 2,200 m above sea level to improve growth performance.     

Distribution and clearance of aflatoxins B1 and M1 in turkeys fed diets containing 50 or 150 ppb aflatoxin from naturally contaminated corn

Turkeys were fed a diet containing 50 or 150 ppb aflatoxin for 11 or 13 weeks or fed these diets for 11 weeks and then the control diet for 1 or 2 weeks. Aflatoxins B1 and M1 were found in liver, kidney, gizzard, and feces of poults fed the diets for 11 or 13 weeks. However, in turkeys fed the control diet for 1 or 2 weeks after the 11-week feeding trial, no residues of aflatoxin were found in the feces or tissues, except for some aflatoxin B1 remaining in detectable amounts in the gizzard. No mortality was attributable to aflatoxin, and there were no notable differences among groups in weight gains, feed conversion, or histopathologic changes in selected tissues. The response to a second inoculation with sheep erythrocytes was significantly lower in poults given dietary aflatoxin than in controls. This reduced antibody response was not observed when a Pasteurella multocida vaccine was administered.     

Efficacy of furazolidone in grower diets on subsequent performance of swine--a cooperative study

Nine experiments were conducted at three stations to evaluate the efficacy of furazolidone as a growth promoter in diets for young swine and to determine if an early growth response is maintained after the additive is withdrawn from the diet. A total of 528 pigs (24 replications, 132 pigs/treatment) initially averaging 12 kg body weight were fed a nonmedicated basal diet or a diet with 110 ppm furazolidone for 5 wk, 165 ppm furazolidone for 3 wk or 220 ppm furazolidone for 2 wk. After withdrawal of furazolidone, the basal diet was fed to the end of the test, at which time the pigs averaged 93 kg. During the initial 2-wk period, pigs fed furazolidone gained 15.4% faster (P less than .001) and required 8% less (P less than .001) feed per unit of gain than control pigs fed the nonmedicated diet. At 5 wk, pigs previously fed furazolidone gained 8.4% faster (P less than .001) and 4.5% more efficiently (P less than .001) than controls. By 10 wk, pigs previously fed furazolidone maintained a slight advantage in growth rate over controls (2.6%, P less than .10), but feed/gain responses were similar for the two groups. By the end of the experiment, the early growth response from furazolidone was completely lost. Although there were differences in growth responses among stations, the treatment response patterns were similar for each station, with no evidence of a treatment X station interaction.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

浓缩大豆磷脂对肉仔鸡生产性能的影响

本试验采用单因子随机化设计,将225只艾维菌肉仔鸡随机分为5个处理组,每个处理组设3个重复,每个重复15只鸡,以玉米-豆粕型日粮为基础日粮,饲喂处理1设为空白对照组;处理2添加猪油,设为猪油对照组;处理3、4、5分别添加低、中、高水平的浓缩大豆磷脂,为试验组.在0～3周龄猪油以2%,浓缩大豆磷脂分别以2%、3%、4%;在4～6周龄猪油以3%,浓缩大豆磷脂分别以3%、4%、5%添加到基础日粮中以替代相同比例的玉米,蛋白质水平维持不变.研究添加猪油和不同水平的浓缩大豆磷脂对肉仔鸡生长性能的影响,并对其作用机理进行了初步探讨.结果表明:在0～3周龄时,中、高水平试验组极显著地提高了采食量(P<0.01);在4～6周龄时,中水平试验组具有较大的采食量,但高水平试验组采食量有所下降;从全期来看,猪油对采食量影响不大;在0～3周龄,中、高水平试验组极显著地提高了增重(P<0.01),而且在此阶段添加油脂显著提高了饲料转化率(P<0.05);在4～6周龄时,添加油脂极显著提高了增重和饲料转化率(P<0.01);从全期来看,添加油脂可以提高增重与饲料转化率,且在0～3周龄时浓缩大豆磷脂优于猪油.     

饲粮乳清粉含量对乳猪培育性能的影响

以含乳清粉5、10、15％的乳猪料以及不含乳清粉的酸化乳猪料和合资企业生产5311乳猪料饲喂1～5周龄的杜浙杂交仔猪32窝。仔猪5周龄断奶平均体重分别为8.20±0.19、7.09±0.21、7.81±0.16、7.87±0.18和7.71±0.23公斤(P<0.01);其平均日增重相应为192.0±5.0、162.2±5.3、182.8±4.4、181.0±4.9和178.7±6.3克(P<0.05);饲料/增重分别为0.19、0.30、0.20、0.26和0.26;7～35日龄仔猪成活率分别为98.6、98.3、98.6、98.3和100％;每公斤增重的乳猪料成本为0.30、0.53、0.40、0.41和0.45元。从上述指标分析,以含5％乳清粉的饲粮组较好。     

Effect of a dried Bacillus subtilis culture on gosling growth performance

1. The study was conducted to evaluate the effects of a dried Bacillus subtilis culture (DBSC) on growth performance and nutrient retention of goslings. 2. A total of 240 goslings were randomly divided into 4 dietary treatments with 6 replicates of 10 goslings per pen from 0 to 4 weeks of age. The 4 treatments consisted of a basal diet containing neither antibiotics nor DBSC (control), basal diet supplemented 5 mg Flavomycin/kg, and basal diet supplemented with 250 or 500 mg DBSC/kg. 3. Body weight and feed consumption were measured with pen as the experimental unit at 14 and 28 d of age, and excreta collections from each pen were carried out to determine nutrient retention ratio during the 4th week. 4. The results showed that the diet supplemented with 250 mg DBSC/kg increased average daily gain (ADG) by 6.9%, reduced average daily feed intake (ADFI) by 3.9%, and improved feed conversion ratio (FCR) by 10.3% in a 0-28 d feeding period, compared with the control diet. However, the diet containing 500 mg DBSC/kg did not effect these performance of goslings. 5. The goslings given the diet with 250 mg DBSC/kg had similar ADG, lower ADFI and significantly lower FCR to or than the goslings fed on the Flavomycin diet. 6. The results also showed that dietary DBSC supplementation improved dry matter and energy retention of goslings. 7. This study indicated that the diet containing a dried B. subtilis culture at 250 mg/kg offered large benefits to the growth performance of goslings, and these benefits could equal or exceed those from Flavomycin. It is suggested that the growth promoting effect of DBSC may be attributed to the improvement in the availability of dietary nutrients.     

Beta-carotene supplementation of turkey diets varying in fat and retinol

1. The effects of supplementary beta-carotene (BC) at 0, 1.5, 15, 150, 1500 or 15,000 mg/kg diet on performance, incidence of leg problems, tibia ash, and plasma and liver concentration of BC and retinol of poults to 4 weeks of age were studied. 2. Body weight and food intake increased with dietary BC supplementation. Incidence of leg problems was not affected but tibia ash increased with BC supplementation. Plasma and liver BC and liver retinol increased with dietary BC but plasma retinol was not affected. 3. The effects of 0, 1.5, 15 or 150 mg BC/kg in diets containing either 30 or 60 g added fat/kg and either 1.2 or 12.0 mg retinol/kg on the above properties were studied in poults to 4 weeks of age. 4. Performance was not significantly affected by dietary fat. Efficiency of utilisation of food was depressed by the higher concentration of retinol. At 3 weeks of age birds given BC had fewer leg problems and higher tibia ash values than the control birds. Liver BC and retinol and plasma BC concentration increased with dietary BC. By 4 weeks, plasma and liver BC was higher and liver retinol was lower for birds given 1.2 compared with those given 12.0 mg/kg of retinol.     

Dietary conjugated linoleic acids alleviate early inflammatory response caused by lipopolysaccharide injection in male broiler chicks

An experiment was undertaken to determine if dietary conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) influences the early stage of the inflammatory response caused by a single injection of Salmonella enteritidisi lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in male broiler chicks. Chicks (7 days old) were fed either 0 or 10 g CLA/kg in their diet for 21 days. At 28 days old, birds were injected intraperitoneally with 1.5 mg LPS/kg body weight after 12 h fasting. Changes in feed intake, rectal temperature and plasma α‐1 acid glycoprotein and ceruloplasmin concentrations were measured during 24 h after LPS injection. Chicks fed the CLA diet were fed more feed for 24 h, had a lower rectal temperature at 9 and 24 h and a lower plasma α‐1 acid glycoprotein concentration at 24 h after LPS injection than chicks fed the basal diet. Plasma ceruloplasmin concentration tended to be lower in chicks fed the CLA diet than in chicks fed the basal diet. The results suggest that dietary CLA alleviate undesirable early inflammatory response due to LPS injection in male broiler chicks.     

Effect of dietary fibres on small intestine histomorphology and lipid metabolism in young broiler chickens

Two experiments were conducted to determine the influence of dietary fibres on small intestine histomorphology and lipid metabolism in broilers from 1 to 21 day of age. In experiment 1, diets containing insoluble [cellulose (CEL); 2% and 4%] or soluble [carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC); 2% and 4%] fibre were fed to broilers from day 1 to 21 post‐hatch and ileal tissue was collected at day 21 of age for histological evaluation. In experiment 2, broilers diet was supplemented with 0%, 1% or 2% insoluble fibre (Arbocel) during day 7 to 21 post‐hatch and plasma and liver lipid metabolism were evaluated at day 21. In experiment 1, inclusion of CMC reduced body weight gain (BWG) and feed intake (FI) and increased feed conversion ratio (FCR) compared with others. Intestinal histomorphology was unaffected by CEL, but CMC led to an increase in crypt depth (CD) and serosa thickness and a decrease in villus height (VH), villus width (VW), VH:CD ratio and villus surface area (VSA), rather than control and CEL groups. Treatment did not affect goblet cell type. Moreover, the CMC‐fed birds had greater total goblet cell count (GCC) as compared with others. In experiment 2, fibre inclusion was associated with increases in BWG from 7 to 14 day of age and an improvement in FCR, whereas FI was not influenced by treatments. Inclusion of fibre in the diet decreased the weight of the abdominal fat and cholesterol concentrations of liver and plasma. No significant effects on fatty acid composition of liver lipid were observed by fibre supplementation. These findings suggest dietary fibre affects performance, intestinal histomorphology and lipid metabolism in young chicks, which may directly affect poultry feeding strategies.     

Evaluation of various extracted vegetable oils, roasted soybeans, medium-chain triglyceride and an animal-vegetable fat blend for postweaning swine

A total of 280 crossbred pigs weaned at 21 d of age and weighing approximately 6 kg were utilized in five replicates to evaluate pig growth responses when fed a basal diet or one of several dietary lipid sources during a 4-wk postweaning period. A basal corn-soybean meal-corn starch-dried whey diet was compared with diets supplemented at a 7.75% level with one of the following lipid sources: corn oil, coconut oil, soybean oil, medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) or an animal-vegetable blend. A sixth treatment evaluated a roasted soybean diet formulated to an energy:lysine level equivalent to that of the fat-supplemented diets. In Exp. II, 36 crossbred weanling barrows were used to determine apparent fat and N digestibilities when soybean oil, roasted soybean, coconut oil or the MCT-supplemented diets were fed. Although pigs fed coconut oil grew somewhat faster, fat inclusion generally did not increase pig growth rate or result in lowered feed intake during the initial weeks postweaning; during the latter portion of the starter phase the addition of dietary fat resulted in a higher growth rate but feed intake was unaffected, resulting in an overall improvement in feed-to-gain ratio (P less than .05) for all but the roasted soybean diet. Pigs fed coconut oil had higher serum triglyceride and lower serum urea concentrations than did pigs fed diets containing most other lipid sources. Pigs fed MCT and coconut oil diets had a higher (P less than .01) apparent fat digestibility during the initial 2 wk postweaning than pigs fed soybean oil or roasted soybean diets. Pigs fed MCT and roasted soybeans had poorest growth rates; apparent fat and N digestibilities were lowest (P less than .05) for the roasted soybean diet.     

日粮锌水平对4~6周龄肉仔鸡生长性能、胴体性能及肉品质的影响

研究日粮锌水平对4~6周龄肉仔鸡生长性能、胴体性能和肉品质的影响。360只1日龄Arbor Acres(AA)肉公雏,0~3周龄统一饲喂同种日粮(含锌86.25 mg/kg),于22日龄从中选取288只鸡按体重随机分成8个处理,每个处理分6个重复笼饲养,每个重复笼6只鸡。分别饲喂不添加锌的玉米-豆粕型基础日粮(对照组,含锌27.66 mg/kg)和在基础日粮中分别添加20、40、60、80、100、120和140 mg/kg锌(试剂级硫酸锌)日粮。试验期21 d。研究结果表明,日粮锌水平对4~6周龄肉仔鸡生长和胴体性能均无显著影响(P>0.10),但日粮中添加适宜水平的锌可显著降低肉仔鸡胸肌、腿肌的滴水损失和胸肌丙二醛含量,提高胸肌L^*值(P<0.10)。     

Effect of benzoic acid on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, nitrogen balance, gastrointestinal microflora and parameters of microbial metabolism in piglets

In order to investigate the effects of benzoic acid on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, nitrogen balance and gastrointestinal microflora of piglets, we conducted a performance experiment and a separate balance study. The performance experiment involved four different dietary treatments: (1) basal diet (negative control); (2) basal diet supplemented with benzoic acid at 5 g/kg; (3) basal diet supplemented with benzoic acid at 10 g/kg; (4) basal diet supplemented with potassium diformate at 12 g/kg. Each dietary treatment was assigned to nine replicate groups, each consisting of two piglets. Live weight, daily weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion ratio were monitored as performance parameters over a 35-day period. Supplementation of the diet with benzoic acid resulted in a dose-dependent increase in feed intake and body weight gain and an improved feed conversion ratio. Piglets fed the diet supplemented with benzoic acid at 10 g/kg outperformed the control piglets in mean feed intake, body weight gain and feed conversion ratio by 9%, 15% and 6% respectively. Growth performance of the piglets fed the diet with benzoic acid at 10 g/kg was similar to that of piglets fed the diet supplemented with potassium diformate. In the balance experiment three groups of six piglets each were fed either a control diet or diets supplemented with benzoic acid at 5 or 10 g/kg respectively. Benzoic acid did not significantly affect nutrient digestibility but increased nitrogen retention. Piglets fed the diets supplemented with benzoic acid at 5 or 10 g/kg retained 5% and 6% more nitrogen, respectively, than control piglets. Supplementation of benzoic acid did not influence the pH value or the concentration of ammonia in the gastrointestinal tract but reduced the number of bacteria in the digesta. In the stomach the number of total aerobic, total anaerobic, lactic acid forming and gram-negative bacteria was reduced; in the duodenum the presence of benzoic acid reduced the number of gram-negative bacteria and in the ileum the number of total aerobic bacteria in a dose-dependent manner. Benzoic acid also considerably reduced the concentration of acetic acid in the duodenum. In conclusion, the data of this study suggest that benzoic acid exerts strong antimicrobial effects in the gastrointestinal tract of piglets and therefore enhances growth performance and nitrogen retention.     

Effect of different non-chloride sodium sources on the performance of heat-stressed broiler chickens

1. One hundred and eighty 1-d-old broiler chicks were used to evaluate the effect upon broiler performance during severely hot summer months of three different sodium salts: sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3), sodium carbonate (Na2CO3) and sodium sulphate (Na2SO4), in starter and finisher diets having an identical electrolyte balance (DEB) of 250 mEq/kg. 2. The non-chloride sodium salts were added to contribute the same amount of sodium and were substituted at the expense of builder's sand in the basal diets containing common salt (NaCl) as Na and Cl source. 3. Each diet was fed to three experimental units having 15 chicks each until 42 d of age. Severe heat-stress conditions, maintained in the rearing room, were indicated by high average weekly room temperature (minimum 29.3 degrees C; maximum 38.0 degrees C). 4. Diets containing sodium salts gave better body weight gain, feed intake and feed to gain ratio than the control diet. Sodium salts also enhanced water intake as well as water to feed intake ratio. This effect was more pronounced in broilers fed NaHCO3 supplement (with NaCl in the basal diets). 5. The increased water intake resulted in lower body temperature in heat-stressed birds fed NaHCO3 supplemented diet than in birds fed other sodium salts. A lower mortality rate was noted with NaHCO3 (15.15%), Na2CO3 (13.64%) and Na2SO4 (15.15%) supplements than with the control (33.33%) treatment. 6. Better carcase and parts yield were observed in sodium supplemented broilers. Sodium salts reduced the alkalotic pH and enhanced the blood sodium content, which ultimately improved the blood electrolyte balance and overall performance of heat-stressed broilers. 7. Supplementing broiler diets with sodium salts improved the live performance of heat-stressed broilers and better productive performance was noted with NaHCO3 than other sodium supplements.     

Comparison of effects of dietary T-2 toxin on growth, immunogenic organs, antibody formation, and pathologic changes in turkeys and chickens.

The effect of T-2 toxin (trichothecene mycotoxin) consumption on Broad-Breasted White turkey poults and White Leghorn chicks was studied. Groups of ten 8-day-old poults were fed rations containing T-2 at 10 ppm, 2ppm, or 0 ppm (controls) for a period of 4 weeks; a 4th group (inanition control) was fed control rations equal to the amount consumed by the group fed rations containing T-2 at 10 ppm during the previous 24 hours. A similar experimental design was used to study the effect of the toxin on 1-day-old chicks. The thymus glands of the poults given the feed containing 10 ppm were markedly decreased in size compared with thymus glands from poults in the control group, 0.182 vs 0.331 (percentage of body weight). There was no significant (P less than or equal to 0.05) decrease in thymus gland size in poults given 2 ppm or in the inanition controls. Dietary treatment did not appear to affect the size of the bursa or spleen of the poults. Histopathologic examination of thymus glands from poults given 10 ppm of T-2 revealed a depletion of cortical lymphocytes. Chicks appeared less sensitive to T-2 toxin than did the poults. There was no effect by any dietary treatment on the size of the thymus gland, bursa, or spleen of chicks. Reductions were noticed in feed efficiency and weight gain. There was no effect of T-2 toxin on agglutinating antibody formation to Pasteurella multocida bacterin.     

Chronic effects of moniliformin in broiler and turkeys fed dietary treatments to market age

Floor pen studies were conducted, with broilers from 1 to 7 wk of age and with turkeys from 1 to 14 wk of age, to evaluate the chronic effects of moniliformin (M). Fusarium fujikuroi (M-1214) culture material was added to typical corn-soybean basal diets to supply 0, 25, or 50 mg M/kg diet (broilers) or 0, 12.5, 25, 37.5, or 50 mg M/kg diet (turkeys). Compared with controls, chicks fed diets containing 50 mg M/kg consumed more feed, had lower body weight gain, were less efficient in converting feed to body weight gain, and had increased relative heart and proventriculus weights. Chicks fed the diet containing 50 mg M/kg also had significantly higher mortality and decreased mean corpuscular volumes compared with controls. Broilers fed 25 and 50 mg M/kg also had increased serum gamma glutamyltransferase activities. Feed intake, body weight gain, and feed conversion of turkeys fed dietary M were not affected. At 6 and 14 wk, turkeys fed 25, 37.5, or 50 mg M/kg diet had increased (P < 0.05) relative heart weights when compared with controls. At week 14, turkeys fed diets containing 37.5 or 50 mg M/kg also had increased (P < 0.05) relative liver weights compared with turkeys fed 0, 12.5, or 25 mg M/kg diet. Lesions, observed only in the hearts of broilers and turkeys fed 50 mg M/kg, were loss of cardiomyocyte cross striations, increased cardiomyocyte nuclear size, and an increased number of cardiomyocyte mitotic figures (turkeys only). Results indicate that > or = 37.5 mg M/kg is hepatoxic and > or = 25 mg M/kg is cardiotoxic to turkeys and 50 mg M/kg diet is toxic to broilers fed to market age.