title: Effect of early stages of fungal development on the nutritional value of diets for broiler chicks.
abstract: During 65 d of storage a gradual increase in fungal activity (evaluated by CO2 production) was observed in a diet with its moisture content elevated to 136 g/kg. This activity was inhibited by supplementation of the wetted diets with either calcium propionate (3 g/kg) or Agrosil (2 g/kg). The fat content of the wetted untreated diet decreased between the 18th and the 45th d of storage from 38 to 29 g/kg. This change was prevented by the addition of either of the two fungistats. The weight gains of 7-d-old female broiler chicks fed on the wetted diets with or without the fungistats from the 18th d after their preparation for 27 d, did not differ significantly (P greater than 0.05) from those of birds fed on the unwetted diet. However, the food:gain ratio of chicks fed on the unwetted diet was significantly (P less than 0.05) better than that of chicks fed on the fungistat-free wetted diet. The results from birds fed on the fungistat-supplemented wetted diets were intermediate. It is concluded that the early stages of fungal activity (characterised by increased CO2 production, without changes or with only a slight decrease in fat content) have only a minor effect on the nutritional value of diets.
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D002645:Chickens / Q000378:metabolism*; D004032:Diet; D005658:Fungi; D009753:Nutritive Value