TOXICOLOGICAL EVALUATION OF DIETARY FUMONISIN B1 ON SERUM BIOCHEMISTRY OF GROWING PIGS

Twenty-four male Large White weanling pigs of 8-9 weeks of age averaging 6.94±0.26 kg were used to evaluate the effect of dietary fumonisin B1 (FB1) on serum biochemical parameters. The animals were randomly assigned to 4 dietary treatments containing 0.2, 5.0, 10.0 and 15.0 mg FB1/kg constituting the control, diets 1, 2 and 3 respectively, in a 6-month feeding trial. Blood sample was collected from the ear vein of each animal at the end of the feeding trial for biochemical analyses. Animals fed the control diet and diet 1 had significantly (P<0.05) higher serum total protein, albumin and globulin concentrations as well as the serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activities and serum cholesterol concentrations than those on diets 2 and 3, while the serum triglyceride concentrations of the animals fed diets 1 and 2 were significantly (P<0.05) lower than those fed diet 3 but significantly (P<0.05) higher than those fed the control diet. The study revealed that chronic ingestion of dietary FB1 ≥10.0 mg kg-1 may result in significant alterations of serum biochemical parameters in growing pigs suggesting chronic gastrointestinal or hepatic disease

TOXICOLOGICAL EVALUATION OF DIETARY FUMONISIN B1 ON SERUM BIOCHEMISTRY OF GROWING PIGS

ABSTRACT Twenty-four male Large White weanling pigs of 8-9 weeks of age averaging 6.94±0.26 kg were used to evaluate the effect of dietary fumonisin B 1 (FB 1 ) on serum biochemical parameters. The animals were randomly assigned to 4 dietary treatments containing 0.2, 5.0, 10.0 and 15.0 mg FB 1 /kg constituting the control, diets 1, 2 and 3 respectively, in a 6-month feeding trial. Blood sample was collected from the ear vein of each animal at the end of the feeding trial for biochemical analyses. Animals fed the control diet and diet 1 had significantly (P&lt;0.05) higher serum total protein, albumin and globulin concentrations as well as the serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activities and serum cholesterol concentrations than those on diets 2 and 3, while the serum triglyceride concentrations of the animals fed diets 1 and 2 were significantly (P&lt;0.05) lower than those fed diet 3 but significantly (P&lt;0.05) higher than those fed the control diet. The study revealed that chronic ingestion of dietary FB 1 ≥10.0 mg kg -1 may result in significant alterations of serum biochemical parameters in growing pigs suggesting chronic gastrointestinal or hepatic disease

Nutritional Potential of Centrosema pubescens Mimosa invisa and Pueraria phaseoloides Leaf Meals on Growth Performance Responses of Broiler Chickens

Aims: The objective of this study was to access the growth responses of chickens fed different leaf meal supplements. Study Design: The experimental design used was completely randomized design for the chicks and completely randomized block design for the growing pullets and cockerels. Place and Duration of Study: The experiments were carried out at Bora Poultry Unit of Federal College of Animal Health and Production Technology, Institute of Agricultural Research and Training (IAR&T;) Ibadan, Nigeria. The experiments were carried out between the years 2004 to 2009. Methodology: Nutritive potentials of Centrosema pubescens, Mimosa invisa and Pueraria phaseoloides leaf meals (LM) were determined and evaluated using different types of chicken within the years 2004-2009. The diets were formulated to contain 0,20/25, 30/40, 60/75 and 80/90g LM/kg feed and 120 to 150 birds were used in each experiment. Each treatment was replicated three times. All ingredients in each experiment were of constant weight, except the soybean and groundnut cake which test ingredients replaced some percentages weight for weight. Data on feed intake and weight gain were subjected to oneway ANOVA and comparisons were made using Duncan’s Multiple Range Test. Results: Results revealed that the LM are rich in crude protein (21.36-23.34%) and ash (4.25 – 9.14%). The most available mineral elements were potassium (0.45-1.85%) and calcium (0.60 – 1.726%). The concentration of tannin was highest in the LM (1.57- 3.35g/100gDM) unlike oxalate (0.037-0.065g/100gDM). The poorest LM in terms of nutritive value and chicken performance was Mimosa invisa leaf meal (MLM), while the best was Centrosema pubescens leaf meal (CLM). Inclusion of 40 – 60gCLM/kg feed for Black Nera chicks and finisher pullets and 75gCLM/kg feed for broiler starters and finishers resulted to significant (P<0.05) reduction in feed intake and weight gain. Feed intake and weight gain of broiler starters and finishers and cockerel growers fed 20 – 60gMLM/kg feed supplements significantly (P<0.05) and progressively decreased with increased dietary concentration of MLM supplement. Broiler starters and finishers fed 30-90PLM/kg feed had increased feed intake, which was progressive, unlike their weight gain which depressed significantly (P<0.05) with increased concentration of Pueraria phaseoloids leaf meal (PLM). Conclusion: Hence, 20 and 25g CLM/kg feed is recommended for pullet chicks/growing pullets and broiler chicken, respectively, while PLM and MLM are not recommended, for chicken nutrition due to depression in growth rate

Growth Performance of Male Rabbits Exposed to Dietary Fumonisin

An experiment was conducted in a completely randomised design to evaluate growth response of male rabbits fed fumonisin contaminated diets for 28 weeks. 48 weaned rabbits with average weight of 757±50.50g were randomly allotted to four dietary treatments containing 0.1, 5.0, 7.5 and 10.0 ppm fumonisin B1 (FB1), constituting diets 1 (control), 2, 3 and 4 respectively. The results showed that final cumulative live weight and daily weight gain of the animals were significantly depressed (P&lt;0.05) in rabbits fed 7.5 and 10.0 ppm FB1 to about 88.11% and 85.27% respectively, relative to the mean daily weight gain of 7.74g of those that fed the control diet. Feed consumption of rabbits fed diets 2, 3 and 4 apparently declined to about 95.92, 91.51 and 84.77% respectively relative to the mean dry matter intake of the control rabbits. Feed conversion ratio was significantly (P&lt;0.05) lowered in animals fed control diet compared to those that fed the test diets. Percents mortality of 8.33 and 16.67 were recorded in rabbits that fed 7.5 and 10.0 ppm FB1 respectively as compared to no mortality among the animals that fed diets 2 and the control. Dry matter and crude protein digestibility were depressed (P&lt;0.05) in rabbits fed 7.5 and 10.0 ppm FB1. The results suggest that exposure of rabbits to diet formulated with ingredient contaminated with fumonisin B1 up to 5.0ppm and above will depress growth performance and impair nutrient digestibility in rabbits.Keywords: Dietary Fumonisin, Growth response, Rabbit

Reproductive Performance of Rabbits Fed Maize-Based Diets Containing FB 1 Strain of Fusarium Verticillioides (Sacc.)

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