EFFECTS OF FEEDING NIVALENOL-CONTAMINATED DIETS TO MALE BROILER-CHICKENS

In two feeding trials the effect of nivalenol (NIV) on male broiler ch ickens was studied. A commercial starter diet was provided for ad libi tum consumption throughout the whole experiment. The NIV was added to the feed when the birds were 7 d old. Growth and feed consumption were thereafter registered every 5th d during 20 d. In the first trial bir ds were offered feed containing 0,.5, 2.5, or 5 ppm NIV. The only vari able that significantly differed from the control was the concentratio n of uric acid in plasma, which was increased by 94 and 66%, respectiv ely, in treatment groups 2.5 and 5 ppm. In the second trial, NIV-conce ntrations of 0, 3, 6, and 12 ppm were used. The weight gain for the 20 -d period was decreased by 11% with 6 and 12 ppm. During this period t hese birds showed a decrease of about 6% in feed consumption and feed conversion efficiency. Gizzard erosions were found in 33% of the birds fed 12 ppm NIV and in 8% of those fed 3 or 6 ppm. No such erosions we re found in the control birds. Relatively, the liver weights in the 12 ppm group were reduced more than total body weights. No effects on re lative organ weights were found when bursa, spleen, and gizzard were c ompared to control. In the blood, no change compared to control was fo und in hematocrit or in the plasma concentration of glucose, calcium, cholesterol, triglycerides, and uric acid, or in the plasma activity o f aspartate amino transferase, alanine amino transferase, or gamma glu tamyl transpeptidase.