The individual and combined effects of aflatoxin and ochratoxin A on various processing parameters of broiler chickens

Male broilers (Hubbard X Hubbard) were placed at hatching into a completely randomized 2 X 2 X 2 factorial experimental design with the treatments consisting of 0 and 2.5 micrograms aflatoxin/g of feed (ppm) and 0 and 2.0 ppm ochratoxin A. In Trial 1, there were four replicate pens of 10 broilers per replicate at each treatment level. At 3 weeks of age two replicate pens were randomly selected and placed on control feed (0 to 3 weeks), the remaining two replicate pens were maintained on treatment (full-term). In Trial 2, there were three replicates of 38 broilers per replicate at each treatment level. At 3 weeks of age 13 broilers from each replicate pen were randomly selected and placed in separate housing and fed control diets (0 to 3 weeks). The remaining 25 broilers were kept on mycytoxin treatments until the conclusion of this trial (full-term). Data collected in these trials indicate that body weights of broilers were significantly (P less than .05) decreased by aflatoxin, ochratoxin A, and the combination treatments of the full term feeding regimen. Broilers partially recovered body weight in the 0 to 3-week feeding regimen; however, recovery was less rapid during ochratoxicosis compared to aflatoxicosis. Body weights of broilers in the combination treatment remained significantly (P less than .05) depressed throughout the trials. As body weight decreased, parts weights decreased accordingly. Carcass yield was significantly (P less than .05) decreased by all treatments, primarily by a decrease in breast yield.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)