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Effects of fumonisin B 1 and mycotoxin binders on growth performance, tibia characteristics, gut physiology, and stress indicators in broiler chickens raised in different stocking densities

Poultry Science, ISSN: 0032-5791, Vol: 97, Issue: 3, Page: 845-854
2018
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Article Description

The present study was carried out to investigate the effects of stocking density, fumonisin B 1 (FB), and mycotoxin binder (TB) on growth performance, bone quality, physiological stress indicators, and gut health in broiler chickens. Day-old Ross 308 male broiler chicks (n = 1,440/experiment) were randomly allocated to 72 floor pens in a 3 × 2 × 2 factorial arrangement, using 3 stocking densities (12.5 birds/m 2 [HSD], 10 birds/m 2 [MSD], or 7.5 birds/m 2 [LSD]), 2 levels of purified FB (0 or 10 ppm), and 2 levels of TB (0 or 0.2%). Each treatment had 6 replicates (n = 6/treatment) and experiments lasted 34 days. All data were analyzed using 3-way ANOVA with stocking density level, FB, and TB as main factors. Body weight gain and feed intake were lower ( P < 0.05) in broilers kept at HSD and MSD compared to LSD-housed counterparts. Birds fed an FB-contaminated diet exhibited a higher feed-to-gain ratio compared with those fed an FB-free diet ( P < 0.05). None of the treatments affected intestinal morphology or ileal secretory immunoglobulin A levels. Stocking density affected tibia breaking strength ( P < 0.05), which was lower in chickens housed at HSD compared with LSD-housed chickens. The heterophil/lymphocyte ratio (H/L ratio) was elevated ( P < 0.05) in HSD and MSD groups compared with the LSD group. Serum nitric oxide (NO) levels were elevated ( P < 0.05) in chickens fed the FB-contaminated diet compared with the control diet-fed counterparts. Significant interaction ( P < 0.05) between FB and TB on serum NO levels was noted. In summary, increasing stocking density lowered growth performance and bone quality, but increased the H/L ratio. Dietary TB did not affect FB-induced increases in the feed-to-gain ratio. No interaction was observed between stocking density and FB for the measured variables.

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