Tropicultura (Jan 2000)
Effect of a High or Low Protein Feed Supplement on Severity of a Fungi-Contaminated Diet on Performance of Chicks
Abstract
Four growth trials were conducted on four groups of 15 Arbor Acres chicks (15d old) to study the effect of dietary protein fortification on the severity of a fungi-contaminated diet. The chicks of the first group were fed on a common diet contaminated with fungi, while the second group was fed the same diet but with soybean. The third group also received the contaminated diet but with corn starch. The fourth group was fed on a common non-contaminated diet. The experiment lasted for four weeks. Chicks fed the fungi-contaminated diet were characterised by a considerable reduction in body weight gain and relative growth rate, an increased feed conversion and a mortality rate of 33 %. The addition of the proteinrich supplement improved all parameters of growth performance and decreased mortality rate. The proteinpoor supplement significantly reduced growth performance and increased mortality rate up to 40 %. In conclusion, fortifying a fungi-contaminated diet with a proteinrich supplement increased the viability of chicks and reduced the negative effects of fungi on performance.
