Adsorbent Levels in Diets Contaminated with Mycotoxins and Japanese Quails Performance

Abstract

In order to evaluate the effects of the level of adsorbent supplemented in diets contaminated with mycotoxins on the performance of Japanese quails, this study used 576 Japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica) with 15 weeks of age. The experimental model used was entirely randomized with fatorial 3x2x2, with three levels of aflatoxin inclusion (0, 1000 and 2000 mg/kg), two levels of zearalenone inclusion (0, and 2000 mg/kg) and two levels of adsorbent inclusion (0 and 0.1%). The Japanese quails were distributed in 36 cages and 12 treatments were used. Three replicates of 16 quails were used in each cage. This study lasted 56 days, comprising two periods of 28 days. Evaluated parameters were the following: food consumption, laying percentage, egg weight, egg mass, feed gain/egg mass, feed gain/egg dozen and weight variation (measured at the end of the second period). Statistical analysis of the results was done in agreement with General Linear Model procedures from SASâ (SAS Institute, 2000). Significant interaction was observed between aflatoxin and zearalenone levels on the egg weight, feed gain/egg mass and feed gain/egg dozen. Also, significant interaction was presented between zearalenone and adsorbent levels on the laying percentage, egg mass, feed gain/egg mass and feed gain/egg dozen. Isolated significant effects of the aflatoxin were found on the food consumption, laying percentage and egg mass. Lowest values were observed in quails that recieved 2000µg/kg of aflatoxins on food, at the two studied periods. Isolated significant effects of the aflatoxin on the body weight loss were observed and quails that received diet contaminated with mycotoxins presented greater weight loss. There weren’t isolated signifcant effects of the zearalenone levels on the quails performance.