Department of Animal Nutrition, Veterinary College and Research Institute, Namakkal-637001 (T.N.).
M.V.Sc. thesis ofthe tlrst author approved by the Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Chennai-51.
Ochratoxin A (OA) was present in 76 and 48% of sunflower cake and the mean level being 76.52 and 31.84 ppb in winter and summer season respectively. Autoclaving and ammoniation (4 or 6% solution) was found to detoxify 15 and 66% OA respectively. OA at 2 ppm in cockerels diet did not influence the growth, feed intake and conversion but the blood picture viz PCV, Hb and cholesterol levels were reduced and level of glucose, SGOT, SGPT and uric acid elevated and the relative weight of proventriculus was increased and bursa decreased. OA at 4 ppm affected the growth, feed consumption and the blood picture and internal organ in addition to change observed in 2 ppm fed birds, the total protein and albumins were reduced and the weight of liver, gizzard, heart and kidney were increased. OA (2ppm) contaminated ammoniated feed had comparable (to control) production performance, the blood picture viz Hb, cholesterol, uric acid, SGOT and SGPT and relative weight of proventriculus and bursa were corrected. However OA (4 ppm) contaminated ammoniated feed had lower growth, feed intake and poor feed efficiency, the blood picture and relative weight of internal organ did not vary over the respective unanulloniated OA group.
Ochratoxin A, growth, ammoniation, blood picture, intemal organ weight
