AMMONIATION TO REDUCE THE TOXICITY OF ENDOPHYTE-INFECTED TALL FESCUE SEED FED TO RATS (VOL 21, PG 373, 1998)

To assess the efficacy of ammoniation in the detoxification of endophy te-infected tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.), 40 male Harlan Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to the following four treat ments for 28 d: endophyte-free (E-), endophyte-infected (E+) ammoniate d (2% dry matter basis, 7 d) endophyte-free (AE-), and ammoniated endo phyte-infected (AE+) tall fescue seed. Total pyrrolizidine alkaloid (N -acetyl and N-formyl loline) and ergovaline contents of endophyte-infe cted fescue seed were reduced 24 and 54%, respectively, by ammoniation . Endophyte-infected treatment groups had lower (P < 0.01) daily feed intakes (DFI), daily weight gains (DWG), feed efficiencies, and primar y serum hemagglutination titers to sheep red blood cell (SRBC) immuniz ation than endophyte-free treatment groups. Performance parameters wer e higher (P < 0.01) for ammoniated diets in comparison to non-ammoniat ed diets, however, anti-SRBC titers were not significantly different. When compared to the E+ diet, the AE+ diet increased (P < 0.01) DFI (2 4%), DWG (41%) and feed efficiency (13%).