EFFECTS OF T-2 TOXIN TREATMENT ON THE EGG YIELD AND HATCHABILITY IN GEESE

Ten groups of one-year-old geese, each including 10 layers and 3 gande rs, were treated with T-2 toxin at doses of 0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5 , 0.6, 0.8, 1.0 and 3.0 mg/kg body weight/day for 18 days by injection into the stomach. At the toxin dose of 0.1 mg/kg/day, the egg yield r emained unchanged while the hatching rate slightly decreased. T-2 toxi n administered at a dose of 0.2 mg/kg/day decreased the hatching rate and the egg yield. The toxin dose of 0.3 mg/kg/day resulted in a 50% r eduction of the hatching rate. The mortality rate was significant at t oxin levels higher than 0.8 mg/bwkg/day; however, 30% of the birds sur vived even the 3.0 mg/kg/day toxin dose.