Effect of purified zearalenone on nutrient digestibility in broilers fed 2 levels of fumonisin from naturally contaminated corn (Zea mays)

A 15-d metabolic experiment in female broilers was carried out to examine the effect of purified zearalenone (ZEA; 0 vs. 1 mg/kg) on the apparent digestibility of DM, organic matter (OM), CP, and gross energy (GE) of diets containing fumonisin (FUM, 3.15 or 5.50 mg/kg) from naturally contaminated corn (Zea mays). Forty-eight 28-d-old female broilers were assigned to a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement and fed 1 of 4 diets: 1) low ZEA (0 mg/kg) and low (3.15 mg/kg) FUM, 2) low ZEA and high (5.50 mg/kg) FUM, 3) high ZEA (1 mg/kg) and low FUM, and 4) high ZEA and high FUM. Birds were housed in 24 wire cages in an environmentally controlled room, fed ad libitum, and allowed free access to water. Feed intake and excreta of each replicate were collected at 3-d intervals during the 15-d experiment to determine the DM, OM, CP, and GE digestibility. All broiler groups had similar ADG, ADFI, and FCR (P > 0.05). Supplementation of ZEA at 1 mg/kg induced a tendency for increased FCR (P = 0.079). Apparent digestibilities of DM, OM, CP, and GE were not affected by the 2 levels of FUM in corn (P > 0.05) but were increased significantly by purified ZEA (P < 0.05). Nutrient digestibility increased with time, possibly because of accumulation of dietary ZEA. In conclusion, nutrient digestibility in female broilers may be improved by dietary ZEA at a level of 1 mg/kg but was not affected by different levels of dietary FUM.