The Quality of Eggs from Japanese Quail, Coturnix japonica, Fed Rations Containing Aflatoxin B1 and Fumonisin B1

Abstract

In the present study, the individual and combined effects of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and fumonisin B1 (FB1) on the quality of quail eggs were investigated. To this end, 288 8-week-old Japanese quail were randomly distributed into six experimental groups (48 birds per group) and fed the following diets for 140 days (five 28-day laying periods) : 1) 0 (control) ; 2) 10mg FB1/kg ; 3) 50μg AFB1/kg ; 4) 50μg AFB1/kg+10mg FB1/kg ; 5) 200μg AFB1/kg ; and 6) 200μg AFB1/kg+10mg FB1/kg feed. Each treatment consisted of four replicates of twelve quail. Eggs laid in the last day of each 28-d laying period were collected and submitted for individual analysis for specific gravity, Haugh units and percentage shell. Results showed that by the end of the 4th cycle, average egg weight was lower (P 0.05) by AFB1 and/or FB1. Only birds receiving the 200μg AFB1/kg+10mg FB1/kg diet had decreased (P<0.05) percent eggshell by the 4th cycle. Data indicated that AFB1 and FB1 in combination have primarily additive effects on quail egg weight, specific gravity and percent eggshell at the concentrations used.