The effect of adding a biding agent to layer diets containing sorghum ergot (Claviceps africana).

Abstract

Approximately 25% of the world’s cereal grains are contaminated with known mycotoxins. Mycotoxins are now known as hidden killers that produce a wide range of harmful effects in animals and are a threat to humans The pathogenic effect of aflatoxin (AF) on poultry has been well documented but the effects of a new mycotoxin to Australia, sorghum ergot (SE) (Claviceps africana) alkaloid, have still to be fully explored. This study was undertaken to broaden our understanding of how to combat the effects of sub-toxic, levels of sorghum ergot alkaloids (SEA) on the egg production of layer chickens. After two weeks on the sorghum ergot diets it was found that laying hens fed a Mycosorb* (Alitech Inc.) supplement had greater feed intakes. After three weeks on the sorghum ergot diets, laying hens fed a Mycosorb® supplement had greater egg production and egg mass than the birds fed the non supplemented ergot diets. The egg production by layers fed the lower protein diets was poorer, but it recovered to be equal to the best production level, when Mycosorb® was added. It is recommended that layer diets that contain ergot contaminated sorghum should be supplemented with a binding agent such as Mycosorb®.