Abstract
The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of low to moderate oral exposure to the Fusarium toxin deoxynivalenol (DON; derived from culture material) on performance, water intake, and carcass parameters of broilers during early and late developmental phases. A total of 160 Ross 308 broilers were randomly allocated to four different feeding groups (n = 40/group) including 0 (control), 2.5, 5, and 10 mg DON/kg wheat-soybean meal-based feed. Three consecutive replicates of the experiment were performed. Half of the broilers were slaughtered in week 3 of the trial whereas the other half were slaughtered in week 5. Dry matter intake (DMI) and water intake (WI) were recorded on a daily basis and the body weight (BW) and BW gain (BWG) were determined weekly. The following carcass traits were recorded and calculated in absolute and relative data: dressed carcass weight, breast muscle weight, leg weight, and liver weight. Data showed that BW (P < 0.001), BWG (P = 0.005), and DMI (P < 0.001) were reduced by DON-feeding during the entire feeding period. The ratio of DMI to body weight gain (DMI/BWG) was not affected by the treatment. However, the ratio of water to DMI (WI/DMI) increased in DON-treated birds (P = 0.021). Contrast analysis showed that DON tendentially reduced slaughter weight (P = 0.082) and decreased leg yield (P = 0.037) in DON-fed chickens in week 5 of the experiment. Liver organ weight decreased in the 3-week-old DON-fed broilers compared to that in the control-fed birds (P = 0.037). In conclusion, the study suggests that DMI and BW were negatively affected under the experimental conditions at DON levels lower than the current guidance value in the European Union of 5 mg/kg feed. The study also indicates that broilers fed on low to moderate level DON-contaminated diets showed increased WI/DMI ratio which might have negative influence on wet litter syndrome.
Highlights
Deoxynivalenol (DON) is one of the most widespread trichothecene toxins in grains, such as wheat, rye, barley, maize, and oats, as well as their by-products and other commodities used in feed production (Escriva et al 2015)
There were no significant differences in BW gain (BWG) in the single weeks
The overall weekly BWG in the 5 mg/kg DON group was decreased compared to the control group (P = 0.003)
Summary
Deoxynivalenol (DON) is one of the most widespread trichothecene toxins in grains, such as wheat, rye, barley, maize, and oats, as well as their by-products and other commodities used in feed production (Escriva et al 2015). While Awad et al (2006a) found no adverse effects of feeding contaminated feed with 10 mg DON/ kg feed on bodyweight and feed consumption on group-housed
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