Ammoniation to reduce the toxicity of endophyte-infected tall fescue seed fed to rats.
To assess the efficacy of ammoniation in the detoxification of endophyte-infected tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb), 40 male Harlan Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to the following four treatments for 28 d: endophyte-free (E-), endophyte-infected (E+), ammoniated (2% dry matter basis, 7 d) endophyte-free (AE-), and ammoniated endophyte-infected (AE+) tall fescue seed. Total pyrrolizidine alkaloid (N-acetyl and N-formyl loline) and ergovaline contents of endophyte-infected fescue seed were reduced 24 and 54%, respectively, by ammoniation. Endophyte-infected treatment groups had lower (P < 0.01) daily feed intakes (DFI), daily weight gains (DWG), feed efficiencies, and primary serum hemagglutination titers to sheep red blood cell (SRBC) immunization than endophyte-free treatment groups. Performance parameters were higher (P < 0.01) for ammoniated diets in comparison to non-ammoniated diets; however, anti-SRBC titers were not significantly different. When compared to the E+ diet, the AE+ diet increased (P < 0.01) DFI (24%), DWG (41%) and feed efficiency (13%).
Department of Animal Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington 40546, USA.
A
A
Simeone
M L
ML
Westendorf
R E
RE
Tucker
L P
LP
Bush
G E
GE
Mitchell
D000164:Acremonium / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D000641:Ammonia / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D004435:Eating / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D010939:Plant Poisoning / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006109:Poaceae / Q000382:microbiology*; D011763:Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids / Q000032:analysis; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012639:Seeds / Q000382:microbiology*
D011763:Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids; D000641:Ammonia