S. Jiang, Zaibin Yang, Weiren Yang
Mar 1, 2012
Citations
5
Influential Citations
49
Citations
Quality indicators
Journal
Livestock Science
Abstract
Abstract The aims of the present study were to investigate the toxicity of zearalenone (ZEA) on nutrient availability, genital organs and serum hormones of piglets, and to evaluate the efficacy of modified montmorillonite clay (Calibrin-Z) in preventing ZEA-induced adverse effects. The experiment was conducted for 22 d using 36 piglets weaned at 21 d of age (Landrace × Yorkshire × Duroc, 18 females and 18 males; 8.84 ± 0.21 kg average body weight). Piglets of each gender were randomly allocated to the following six dietary treatments: 1) Control (basal diet only); 2) Control + 1 g/kg clay; 3) Control + 1 mg/kg ZEA; 4) Control + 1 mg/kg ZEA + 1 g/kg clay; 5) Control + 1 mg/kg ZEA + 2 g/kg clay; and 6) Control + 1 mg/kg ZEA + 4 g/kg clay. Piglets were housed and fed individually for the entire experimental period. Blood samples were taken and piglets were sacrificed at the end of the experiment to obtain organs for physiological assessment. Results showed that treatments had no effect on average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI), feed efficiency (FE, g gain/g feed) and apparent digestibility of nutrients. Females fed ZEA-contaminated diet without clay showed increase (P