Evaluation of tibial dyschondroplasia during aflatoxicosis and feed restriction in young broiler chickens.
Graded levels of aflatoxin (0, .625, 1.25, 2.5, 5.0, and 10.0 microgram of toxin per gram of feed) were incorporated into a broiler starter ration that was fed from day-old to 3 weeks of age. Both tibias were removed from the birds, tibial dyschondroplasia lesions were scored, and the incidence of lesions reported. Both the incidence and severity of tibial dyschondroplasia decreased significantly (P less than .05) at the aflatoxin levels of 2.5, 5.0, and 10.0 ppm. In a second experiment, birds received a broiler starter ration either ad libitum or feed restricted by 23% of the feed consumed by the controls. The feed-restricted birds' body weights and the severity and the incidence of tibial dyschondroplasia decreased to values comparable with those of birds receiving 5.0 ppm aflatoxin. These data suggest that either feed consumption or growth rate, or both, plays a major role in the initiation of tibial dyschondroplasia and tibial dyschondroplasia is not a result of direct intervention of aflatoxin in bone development.
D000348:Aflatoxins / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D002645:Chickens; D004032:Diet / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D010009:Osteochondrodysplasias / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D013977:Tibia
D000348:Aflatoxins