Abstract
The red-crowned crane (Grus japonensis) is a vulnerable bird species. Mycotoxins are toxic substances produced by filamentous fungi and are considered as naturally unavoidable contaminants in animal feed. Our recent survey indicated that feeds designed for captive red-crowned cranes were contaminated with mycotoxins. This study was conducted to investigate the protective effects of the mycotoxin binder montmorillonite on the reproductive behavior, sex hormone levels, and egg quality of red-crowned cranes. Twelve pairs of G. japonensis were divided into four groups, and each group was fed one of the following: a selected diet (with extra low levels of mycotoxins), a regular diet, a selected diet with 0.5% montmorillonite added, or a regular diet with 0.5% montmorillonite added. Consumption of the regular diet decreased courtship and mating behaviors, testosterone concentration, egg weight, and shell thickness. However, feed supplementation with montmorillonite increased the courtship, mating behaviors and testosterone concentration during the pre-breeding period, as well as egg weight and shell thickness. These findings suggest that the addition of dietary montmorillonite is effective for controlling mycotoxins in the feed, resulting in improvements in reproductive behaviors, testosterone concentrations, and some egg quality parameters of the red-crowned crane.
Highlights
Contamination of animal feeds and feed ingredients with mycotoxins is a global concern [1].Animals that eat foods contaminated with high levels of toxins may exhibit obvious symptoms of poisoning
We examined the protective effects of montmorillonite on the reproductive behavior, sex hormone levels, fertilization rate, hatching rate and health rate of these birds during the breeding season to minimize the impact of pollutants in the diet on their reproduction
The cranes were divided into four treatment groups, which were selected diet; selected diet + 0.5% montmorillonite; regular diet; regular diet + 0.5% montmorillonite
Summary
Contamination of animal feeds and feed ingredients with mycotoxins is a global concern [1]. The long-term intake of low levels of toxins can affect their health and reproductive capacity, even if no significant clinical symptoms are apparent [7]. Suggested that low levels of mycotoxins may not affect the reproductive performance of birds; instead, toxins are transmitted to the eggs from the mother, causing the embryo to die during development. In some areas of China, including Yancheng, captive red-crowned crane feeds were all contaminated by mycotoxins. We examined the protective effects of montmorillonite on the reproductive behavior, sex hormone levels, fertilization rate, hatching rate and health rate of these birds during the breeding season to minimize the impact of pollutants in the diet on their reproduction
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