Further studies concerning the toxicity of ingested ergot sclerotia (Claviceps purpurea) to young and growing pigs.
In three experiments pigs were offered diets contaminated with milled ergot sclerotia. In a metabolism study 0-5 per cent (w/w) of American wheat ergot decreased urinary nitrogen losses and improved the efficiency of nitrogen retention. When early weaned piglets ingested a diet contaminated with 2-5 per cent of the ergot, feed intake was reduced and growth rate decreased. Reduction in growth rate was also evident in growing pigs given a diet containing ergotised English wheat. These latter pigs had lesions in stomach, intestine and liver, consistent with a toxic insult. With respect to feed intake and growth these results agreed with those of an earlier study, although a toxic response was produced by a lower dosage rate and there was additional internal evidence of toxicity. Improved nitrogen retention was contrary to earlier evidence at higher dose rates but may merely reflect a tonic action which, at higher doses, becomes toxic.
D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D004881:Ergotism / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000473:pathology; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000378:metabolism; D013270:Stomach / Q000473:pathology; D013552:Swine / Q000254:growth & development; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D014908:Triticum
D009584:Nitrogen