Abstract:
30A RESPONSES OF BROILERS OFFERED MAIZE DIETS CONTAINING THE MYCOTOXIN NIVALENOL J.S. KOPINSKI , B.J. BLANEY , K.M. BARRAM , R. YOUNG Fusarium graminearum infection of maize is common on the Atherton Tablelands of Northern Queensland. The primary mycotoxins produced in this maize are zearalenone and nivalenol (Blaney and Dodman, 1988). Studies have shown no effect of zearalenone on meat chicken performance (Chi et al 1980). Nivalenol a trichothecene, has been shown to be a feed-refusal agent in pigs (Blaney and Williams, 1991). Currently there is no published information on the influence of nivalenol on meat chickens. The present experiment examined the effect of nivalenol-containing maize diets on meat chicken performance from 10d to 31d of age. 240 chickens housed in groups of ten in a broiler battery brooder were fed six graded levels of nivalenol, obtained by substitution of uncontaminated maize with various proportions of nivalenol-containing maize. Diets were formulated to maintain similar ME contents. BLANEY, B.J. AND DODMAN, R.L. (1988) Aust. J. Agric. Res. 39, 21-29. BLANEY, B. J. AND WILLIAMS, KC. (1991) Aust. .7. Agric. Res. 42, in press. CHI, M.S., MIROCHA, C.J., KURT& H.J., WEAVER, G.A., BATES, F., ROBINSON, T. and SHIMODA, W. (1980) Poult. Sci. 59, 531536. MANNION, P.F., BLANEY, B.J. and LEVITT, M.S. (1987) Aust. J. Agric. Res. 38, 621-628. . Queensland Department of Primary Industries, GPO Box 46, Brisbane, Qld 4001.
