Decreased Feed Consumption Research Articles

Effects of Varying Fat and Protein in Diets of Growing Large White Turkeys: 1. Body Weights and Feed Efficiencies

An experiment was conducted to determine the effects of varying levels of dietary fat and protein in corn-soybean meal diets on body weight gain, feed consumption, and feed efficiency (gain:feed ratio) of Nicholas Large White male turkeys between 8 and 22 wk of age. Diets containing 0, 5, 10, or 15% added fat from one of three sources and 18, 21, or 24% protein were fed. At 12 and 16 wk of age, protein levels of all diets were decreased by 2%. A total of 917 turkeys in 36 pens was used.Additions of 5, 10, and 15% fat increased body weight gains 3.3, 7.5, and 6.0%, respectively. Feed consumption decreased 1.3% and feed efficiency increased 2.1% for each 1% fat added to the standard and high protein diets. The fat containing 15% free fatty acids and 1.5% moisture, impurities, and unsaponifiables (MIU) decreased feed consumption 1.5% and increased feed efficiency 2.3% for each 1% added fat, and the two fat sources containing 48% free fatty acids and 5% MIU decreased feed consumption 1.2 or 1.1% and increased feed efficiency 2.1 or 2.0% for each 1% added fat. The former fat source was estimated to contain 7.7% more metabolizable energy than the average of the latter two fat sources. Cumulative body weight gain, feed consumption, and feed efficiency decreased 13.2, 5.7, and 8.1%, respectively, from feeding low protein diets in comparison with results of feeding standard and high protein diets. Maximum increases in body weight gains were obtained with 10% added fat at all levels of protein. No interaction between fat and protein was observed, and added fat appeared to reduce the daily intake requirement for protein and lysine or some other amino acid.

Interaction of Dietary Calcium and Chloride and the Influence of Monovalent Minerals on Eggshell Quality

Two experiments were conducted to determine the influence of dietary sodium and chloride on eggshell quality of leghorn hens. In the first, hens were fed for 4 wk diets containing three levels of calcium (2.0, 2.8, and 3.5%) and two levels of chloride (.25 and .86%) in a factorial arrangement of treatments involving four replicates of five hens/treatment. Neither chloride nor calcium significantly affected hen-day egg production or egg weight (P>.05); however, chloride decreased feed consumption and calcium increased body weight gain (P<.05). Interactions of calcium and chloride were significant for eggshell strength (P<.06) and eggshell thickness (P<.05). Chloride decreased these measures of eggshell quality only for hens receiving 2.0% calcium, and calcium improved both measures only for hens receiving .86% chloride. Chloride decreased blood bicarbonate concentration and base excess (P<.05), but did not affect blood pH and pCO2 (P>.05).The effect of dietary sodium and chloride on eggshells of hens receiving 2.0% dietary calcium was determined in a second experiment. Seven diets ranging from .18% sodium and .94% chloride to .76% sodium and .24% chloride were provided for 4 wk to five replicates of five hens/treatment. Dietary sodium and chloride levels did not affect hen-day egg production or egg weight (P>.05). Increasing the proportions of sodium relative to chloride decreased food intake but increased eggshell strength and thickness (P<.01) and increased blood pH (P<.05), bicarbonate concentration (P<.01), and base excess (P<.01). The results suggest that sodium and chloride balance affect eggshell calcification and that adverse effects of excessive dietary levels of chloride are exacerbated when dietary calcium is limiting.

Acute toxicity of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin to mink.

The effects of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodi-benzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) on adult male mink were assessed. TCDD was administered as a single oral dose (0, 2.5, 5.0, and 7.5 μg/kg body weight) and the mink observed for 28 days. There was a dose dependent decrease in feed consumption with corresponding body weight loss. Gross necropsy revealed mottling and discoloration of the liver, spleen, and kidneys. In mink exposed to higher doses of TCDD, brain, kidneys, heart, and thyroid and adrenal glands were enlarged when expressed as a percent of body weight. Hematologic and thyroid hormone measurements in surviving animals revealed no alterations resulting from TCDD exposure. A 28-day LD50 value of 4.2 μg/kg body weight was calculated. These results indicate that mink are among the most sensitive species to TCDD and that they can serve as a valuable model to study the impact of environmental dioxins on carnivorous mammalian species.

Research Note: Turkey Poult Tolerance to Diets Containing Deoxynivalenol (Vomitoxin) and Salinomycin

Feed taken from a commercial turkey farm where poults had refused to eat the feed and high mortality had occurred was analyzed and found to contain .81 mg/kg vomitoxin and 2.2 mg/kg salinomycin. The present four experiments investigated the effects of diets containing salinomycin at 0, 2.2, 5.5, 11, and 22 mg/kg and vomitoxin at 0, 2.2, and 4.4 mg/kg. A factorial design with vomitoxin at 0 and 4.4 mg/kg and salinomycin at 0 and 22 mg/kg was used in Experiment 4.Poults fed the suspect commercial diet had significantly lower feed consumption and higher motality than poults fed a control diet (P<.05). Poults (0 to 3 wk of age) fed diets containing vomitoxin (4.4 mg/kg), salinomycin (22 mg/kg), or both showed no significant decrease in feed consumption, body weight gain, or viability.

Han/Wistar rats are exceptionally resistant to TCDD. II.

In previous studies from this laboratory, adult male Han/Wistar rats were shown to be very resistant to the lethal effect of a single dose of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodi-benzo-p-dioxin (TCDD). Doses of 125–1400 µg/kg body weight caused a dramatic decrease in feed consumption and a consecutive decrease of 20%–25% in the body weight. Only 2/40 animals died, however, and none in the highest dose group. Hence, the lethal dose for 50% of the group (LD50) must have been over 1400 µg/kg in this strain in contrast to Sprague-Dawley and Long-Evans strains, which have an LD50 of 50 µg/kg or lower. In the present study higher doses were tested to obtain an indication of the LD50 in the Han/Wistar strain.

Decreased feed consumption and body-weight gain in the B6C3F 1 mouse after dietary exposure to 15-acetyldeoxynivalenol

15-Acetyldeoxynivalenol (15-ADON), a biosynthetic precursor of deoxynivalenol (DON), was extracted from rice cultures of Fusarium graminearum R6576 and purified. Growing female B6C3F 1 mice were fed semi-purified diets containing 0, 0.5, 2.0 and 5.0 ppm 15-ADON over 56 days and assessed for effects on feed intake, body-weight gain, terminal organ weights and blood clotting function. A significant reduction in feed intake was observed at the 5.0-ppm level after 44 days, whereas reduced rates of weight gain were found to occur at the 5.0-ppm level after only 16 days. Terminal liver, kidney and spleen weights were significantly lower in mice consuming the 5.0-ppm diet when compared with controls. Dietary 15-ADON at the 0.5- and 2.0-ppm levels did not show significant effects on weight gain, feed intake or organ weights. Although mice treated with 15-ADON had significantly decreased bleeding times, other measurements of clotting function indicated no differences between the control and treated groups. Results indicated that 15-ADON was only slightly less toxic than DON and that chronic manifestations of dietary 15-ADON were similar to those found previously for DON. Future risk assessments for DON should therefore include consideration of 15-ADON occurrence and toxicity.

Effects of Feeding Graded Levels of Vitamin D3 on Egg Shell Pimpling in Aged Hens

Pimpled egg shells are one of the various types of egg shell problems in the industry today. In this study, graded levels of vitamin D3 (D3) (0, 138, 275, 550, 2200, 22,000, 44,000, and 88,000 ICU of D3/kg of feed) were fed in a corn-soy ration to Single Comb White Leghorn hens (78 weeks of age), randomly assigned to one of the eight treatments. Feed consumption, egg production, egg weight, egg specific gravity, and pimple score were determined at weekly or biweekly intervals for a 10-week period. At termination of the experiment, calcium, sodium, potassium, and ash content of the uterus and serum calcium levels were assayed.Results showed that a significant (P<.05) linear increase in pimple score, uterine ash, and serum calcium occurred as dietary levels of D3 increased. Egg production and egg specific gravity were correlated to D3 level in a quadratic fashion. Uterine sodium levels declined with increased D3 in the diet, while potassium values showed no differences. Calcium levels of uterine tissue tended to increase with increased D3. The lowest (0 ICU/kg) and highest level of D3 (88,000 ICU/kg) significantly decreased feed consumption. It was concluded that egg shell pimpling is directly related to level of cholecalciferol (D3) in the diet.

Effect of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo- p-dioxin (TCDD) and fasting on body weight and lipid parameters in rats

This study compared the effect of fasting (feed deprivation) and the effect of exposure to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo- p-dioxin (TCDD) on body weight and on key lipid parameters. The time-course study indicated a statistically significant ( p < 0.05) body weight loss in the TCDD-exposed rats 5 days after the oral administration of corn oil with TCDD (60 μg/kg body wt). Animals demonstrated a 10% body weight decrease either 1 week after this TCDD administration or after 72 hr of fasting. Marked increases in serum triglyceride and cholesterol were observed only in the TCDD-exposed rats, but not in the 0- or 72-hr fasted control rats. These results indicated that some body weight loss and decreased feed consumption occurred after TCDD exposure, but that the metabolic response, with respect to serum lipid metabolism, was not that of a control rat that had lost a similar amount of body weight due solely to fasting.

Dose-related effects of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo- p-dioxin (TCDD) in [formula omitted] and [formula omitted] mice

The dose-related effects of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo- p-dioxin (TCDD) were studied in B6D2F 1 J (B6D), C57BL 6J (C57), and DBA 2J (DBA) mice. A 14-fold difference in lethality was observed in C57 and DBA mice, based upon 30-day LD50 values of 182 and 2570 μg TCDD/kg body wt, respectively. The 30-day LD50 for B6D mice was 296 μg TCDD/kg body wt. A progressive loss of body weight in all strains of mice was observed during the 30-day LD50 studies, with maximal weight losses of 24.7, 34.0, and 33.4% prior to death of C57, B6D, and DBA mice, respectively. In separate experiments, it was found that decreased feed consumption did not contribute to weight loss in C57 mice exposed to lethal or sublethal doses of TCDD until the animals were moribund. Time-course studies in C57 mice treated with 200 μg TCDD/kg body wt indicated that decreases in serum glucose and triglyceride concentrations and increases in hepatic triglyceride content occurred within 4 to 8 days of exposure, and were maximally altered within 17 to 21 days postexposure, concomitant with a 25% body weight loss. C57 mice fasted for 24 to 96 hr lost 18% of body weight and also exhibited alterations in glucose and lipid parameters; however, these changes were substantially different than the effects of TCDD exposure. In concert, these observations demonstrate that decreased feed consumption (hypophagia) does not account for weight loss and changes in carbohydrate and lipid metabolism in TCDD-treated C57 mice. Dose-response experiments resulted in comparable changes in glucose and lipid parameters when DBA mice were exposed to 10-fold higher doses of TCDD than C57 mice. Parallel LD50 responses and parallel changes in carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, at 10- to 15-fold differences in dose range, are indicative of a common mechanism of toxicity in TCDD-treated C57 and DBA mice.

Effect of Crowding and Cage Shape on Productivity and Profitability of Caged Layers: A Survey

We studied research published between 1971 and 1983 on the effects of crowding and cage shape on performance of layers. Three density categories were selected for analysis based on cage floor area per hen: 1) low, ranging from 432 to 561 cm2, averaging 516 cm2; 2) medium, ranging from 355 to 426 cm2, averaging 387 cm2; and 3) high, ranging from 271 to 348 cm2, averaging 310 cm2. Comparisons were made of exactly reversed, deep vs. shallow cages and not exactly reversed, deep vs. shallow cages.Although direct comparisons of all three densities were seldom available within studies, the overall results suggest a curvilinear relationship with performance traits decreasing more rapidly at higher densities. Reducing floor space per hen from an average of 387 cm2 (medium) to 310 cm2 (high) reduced eggs per hen housed by 16.6 (P<.001), increased mortality 4.8% (P<.001), decreased feed consumption 1.9 g/hen/day (P<.05), and increased feed consumption per dozen eggs by 68 g (P<.001). Data from the comparison of 516 cm2 (low) vs. 387 cm2 (medium) showed the increase in crowding reduced egg production by 7.8 eggs per hen housed (P<.01), increased mortality by 2.8% (P<.05), and decreased feed consumption/hen/day by 4.3 g (P<.05). Egg production was significantly (P<.05) affected by cage shape. Hens in shallow cages produced 5.8 more eggs per hen housed than those in deep cages.

Processed Protein Foods Characterized by In Vitro Digestion Rates

ABSTRACTIn vitro tryptic digestion assays and determination of relative digestion rates of food proteins described previously were used to evaluate changes in the rate of digestion following processing technologies. If pH drop measurements are used, a simple mode for the determination of relative digestion rates is suggested based on the comparison with a single reference of the same protein source. The effect of processing technologies could be tested in vitro. Significant increase in the velocity of digestion was found on microwave treatment of lentil and raw soy bean as well as on acid treatment of commercial defatted soy meals. Increase in the in vitro digestion rates was reflected in decreased feed consumption per weight gain in pig feeding experiments.

Fluorosis in the Laying Hen

One hundred fifty Single Comb White Leghorn hens of two strains previously selected for either high eggshell strength (HES strain) or low eggshell strength (LES strain) were treated for 8 weeks with sodium fluoride added to a practical-type corn-soybean meal basal diet at 0, 300, 600, 900, or 1200 ppm. The HES strain was found to be more sensitive to fluorosis than the LES strain. High levels of dietary fluoride produced greater decreases in feed consumption, egg production, eggshell breaking strength, eggshell weight, and eggshell thickness in the HES strain than in the LES strain, despite the fact that the absolute intake of fluoride was greatest in the LES strain. Fluoride treatment significantly increased bone magnesium content in both strains and plasma phosphorus in the HES strain but did not significantly affect bone breaking strength or the concentrations of total calcium, ionized calcium, or magnesium in plasma of either strain. High fluoride treatment (1200 ppm) reduced the growth of HES progeny after 8 weeks of treatment of the hens, but LES progeny were not affected. These results suggest that the decreased sensitivity of the LES strain to fluoride may relate to its relatively greater (ca. 14%) volume of bone in which most absorbed fluoride is deposited.

Production Performance of White Leghorn Layers Limited Fed

Three trials were conducted to determine if the age at start of limited feeding or the amount of time laying hens were given to consume feed could be used to reduce feed intake without affecting egg weight (EW) or egg production. The age at start of limiting feed did not affect hen-day egg production (HDEP) or EW in any trial. In Trial 2, a significant difference in HDEP due to feeding times at 26 weeks of age was observed. Laying hens fed 7 hr/day at 26 weeks of age had a significantly lower HDEP than any other feeding time. Limited feeding in Trials 1 and 2 significantly decreased feed consumption, body weight gain (WG), and EW when compared with laying hens fed ad libitum. No difference in HDEP or EW was observed due to limited feeding in Trial 3. Laying hens fed 9 or 10 hr/day gained significantly less weight than laying hens fed ad libitum (Trial 3). Limited feeding did not improve feed efficiency in any trial. No consistent improvement in mortality could be attributed to limited feeding.

Subacute and chronic toxicity studies of trinitroglycerin in dogs, rats, and mice

Subacute and chronic oral toxicities of trinitroglycerin (TNG) were studied in beagle dogs, CD rats, and CD-1 mice. No adverse effects were seen in dogs given up to 1 mg/kg/day of TNG for 4 weeks, then 5 mg/kg/day for 9 more weeks. Dogs given 25 to 200 mg/kg/day for 5 days had transient and dose-related severe methemoglobinemia, while 200 mg/kg/day produced depression; dogs given 1, 5, or 25 mg/kg/day for 12 months had transient and doserelated mild methemoglobinemia. Rats fed 0.1% TNG for 5 weeks, then 0.5% (230–234 mg/kg/day) for 8 more weeks had decreases in feed consumption and weight gain after the increase in dosage; rats fed 2.5% TNG (1406 or 1416 mg/kg/day for males and females, respectively) for 13 weeks suffered adverse effects, including weight loss, compensated anemia, and testicular degeneration, but they resumed gaining weight as feeding continued. Rats fed 1% TNG (363 or 434 mg/kg/day for males and females, respectively) for 2 years had decreased weight gain, decreased grooming, methemoglobinemia and its sequelae, cholangiofibrosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, and interstitial cell tumors of the testis. A decrease in the naturally occurring pituitary chromophobe adenoma and mammary tumors increased the life span of the females. Some rats fed 0.1% TNG (31.5 or 38.1 mg/kg/day for males and females, respectively) had mild hepatic lesions similar to those seen in rats fed the larger doses. No adverse effects were seen in mice fed up to 0.1% TNG for 3 weeks, then 0.5% for 10 more weeks. Mice fed 1% TNG (1022 or 1058 mg/kg/day for males, respectively) for 2 years had decreased weight gain, decreased grooming, and methemoglobinemia and its sequelae, but no obvious cellular changes as found in the rats.

Improved Performance of Turkey Hens from the Addition of Dietary Fat

An experiment was conducted to determine the influence of added fat on the performance of large turkey hens. The addition of 4% animal fat to the diet significantly increased energy consumption and increased egg production. A numerical decrease in feed consumption and significant increase in egg production were obtained by increasing added fat from 4 to 8%. Added fat did not influence specific gravity or fertility and hatchability of fertile eggs.

The effect on performance of different energy concentrations in complete rations for first lactation cows before and after calving

Fifty-two Danish Black and White heifers were fed different complete rations in a two factor experiment. Over the last two months before calving (Period 1) the heifers were fed two different rations, one with small and one with high amounts of bulky feed. The rations were fed in a way that gave the same energy intake for both groups measured as Scandinavian feed units (1 FU = the energy value of 1 kg of barley). From calving until 24th week of lactation (Period 2), the cows were allotted 3 complete rations containing different energy concentrations 0.82 (ration L), 0.93 (ration H), and 1.05 (ration HH) FU per kg dry matter. From the 25th to 36th week of lactation (Period 3) all cows received ration L. An increase in the energy concentration in the complete rations in Period 2 had a highly significant effect ( P < 0.001) on feed intake, milk production, and daily gain of the three groups. Feed intake was 12.95, 14.39 and 15.79 kg DM/day, milk production reached 17.9, 20.5 and 22.1 kg fat-corrected milk (FCM)/day, and daily gain was + 22 + 182, and + 331 g/day, for the three groups respectively. No significant effects were found on milk composition. In Period 3 where all groups were fed ration L, the feed intake of the two groups fed ration H and HH in Period 2, decreased very quickly to the level of ration L. The decrease in feed consumption was followed by a decrease in milk production. Feeding before calving with a ration containing a high proportion of bulky feed had a small positive effect (not significant) on feed intake and milk production in the following lactation of 0.6 kg DM/day and 0.5 kg FCM/day, compared to a ration with a low proportion of bulky feed.

Effects of Fusarium Cultures, T-2 Toxin, and Zearalenone on Reproduction of Turkey Females

Nicholas Large White turkey hens in egg production (10 per treatment) were individually fed cultures of Fusarium roseum ‘Gibbosum’ to provide 100 ppm zearalenone, Fusarium tricinctum at a level of .1% of the diet, Fusarium roseum Alaska at a level of 2% of the diet, 100 ppm purified zearalenone, and 5 ppm purified T-2 toxin for 8 weeks. The following 4 weeks the birds were fed a control diet. Hens were inseminated every 2 weeks with .05 ml of pooled semen from males fed a control diet. After 30 days of toxin feeding, hens were innoculated with a killed Newcastle disease virus preparation. Blood samples were obtained periodically. Egg fertility and titers to Newcastle disease virus were unaffected by treatment. Egg weight was reduced by F. roseum ‘Gibbosum’. F. roseum ‘Gibbosum’ and F. tricinctum caused decreases in feed consumption, body weight, and egg production. Egg production was decreased by zearalenone and T-2 toxin. Hens fed F. roseum ‘Gibbosum’, F. tricinctum, and T-2 toxin exhibited mouth lesions that healed rapidly upon withdrawing toxic feed. Hatchability of fertile eggs was reduced by feeding F. roseum ‘Gibbosum’, F, tricinctum and F. roseum Alaska to 28, 78, and 49%, respectively, of control values by the end of the 8 week test period. Upon removal of toxic feed, hatchability rapidly returned to control levels. Embryo mortality occurred mainly in the first 10 days of incubation for F. roseum Alaska and the last 18 days for F. roseum ‘Gibbosum’ and F. tricinctum fed hens. It appears that mycotoxins other than zearalenone and T-2 toxin are responsible for reduced hatchability from feeding Fusarium cultures.

Dietary Interaction of Phosphorus with Sodium from Either Chloride or Bicarbonate Affects Laying Hen Performance

Experimental diets consisting of two levels of total phosphorus (.30 and .75%) and three different treatments of supplemental sodium (.35% NaCl, 1.40% NaCl, and .35% NaCl plus 1.50% NaHCO3) were fed in a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement to laying hens for 16 weeks. The latter two treatments of sodium were designed to supply the same level of sodium (.55%) from different chemical forms. Hens fed .30% phosphorus laid significantly (P<.01) less eggs than those fed .75% phosphorus. A highly significant (P<.01) interaction was found between phosphorus and sodium treatments. The high level of sodium from either chloride or bicarbonate decreased egg production at the lower level of phosphorus and increased it when the higher level of phosphorus was fed. Sodium bicarbonate affected egg production more strongly than sodium chloride did. There were no significant treatment effects on egg weight and egg shell weight. Addition of sodium bicarbonate to the low phosphorus diet significantly (P<.05) decreased feed consumption of the hen. Supplemental sodium bicarbonate with either level of dietary phosphorus significantly (P<.05) increased percent nitrogen retention of the hen, but excessive sodium chloride did not.

Natural Occurrences of Ochratoxicosis in Poultry

Five independent episodes of ochratoxicosis in about 970,000 turkeys, two episodes in about 70,000 laying hens, and two episodes in about 12,000,000 broiler chickens were investigated. Ochratoxin A concentrations in suspect feed and ingredients ranged from <.2 to 16 ppm. Feed samples tested for T-2 toxin, F-2 toxin, heavy metals, and polychlorinated biphenyls were negative. Minor amounts of aflatoxin (<60 ppb) were found in suspect feed from two episodes. The main symptoms in turkeys were mortality (up to 59%), nephrotoxicity (pale, swollen kidneys that became tan colored in the sequel to acute toxicity), decreased feed consumption (as little as 20% of the normal feed intake) prior to death, and secondary air sacculitis. Histopathology revealed edema and necrosis of the proximal tubules of the kidneys and no changes in the liver or other organs. Suspect feed containing 2 ppm ochratoxin A increased uric acid levels in serum when fed to poults in the laboratory. The episodes in laying hens were characterized by reduced egg production, poor egg shell quality, and nephropathy. The episodes in broiler chickens were characterized by poor growth rate, poor feed conversion efficiency, poor pigmentation, nephropathy, and increased incidence of air sacculitis. Obtaining feed and ingredients free of ochratoxin, cleaning the feed and ingredient handling equipment, and adding antifungal agents to the feed proved beneficial. Eight of the 9 episodes were traced to the corn supply and the ninth episode was traced to corn gluten meal that became contaminated during storage after manufacture. Evidence was obtained that the ochratoxin was unstable and declined in concentration during storage. Aqueous acetone was a better solvent for extracting ochratoxin than was the recommended phosphoric acid:chloroform. The ochratoxin extracted from high potency samples consisted of ochratoxins A, B, and C in ratios of about 90:8:2.

Noncitrinin Toxicity of Penicillium citrinum Contaminated Corn

Day-old White Leghorn chicks were fed P. citrinum-contaminated corn at 3.88, 7.75, 31, or 62% levels in the ration for a period of 5 weeks. High treatment levels (31 and 62%) of contaminated corn in the ration caused severe growth depression, high mortality, and significant decreases in feed consumption. Necrosis of periportal and centrilobular hepatocytes, glomerular atrophy and hyperplasia, degeneration and necrosis of tubular epithelial cells, lymphoid depletion, suppression of hematopoiesis, necrosis of pancreatic acinar cells, and a cardiac and skeletal myopathy were observed microscopically in chicks fed 31 and 62% contaminated corn in the rations. Low levels of contaminated corn in the ration (3.88 and 7.75%) caused few clinical effects; however, liver and kidney changes were observed microscopically. Ultrastructural observation of affected tissues showed swelling of mitochondria, dilatation of the endoplasmic reticulum, increased numbers of autophagic vacuoles and paramyelin figures, and lipoprotein peroxidation of organelles. The toxin (s) present in the P. citrinum contaminated ration have not been identified.