Lipid metabolism of commercial layers fed diets containing aflatoxin, fumonisin, and a binder

Aflatoxins (AF) and fumonisins (FU) are a major problem faced by poultry farmers, leading to huge economic losses. This experiment was conducted to determine the effects of AF (1 mg/kg of feed) and FU (25 mg/kg of feed), singly or in combination, on the lipid metabolism in commercial layers and investigate the efficacy of a commercial binder (2 kg/t of feed) on reducing the toxic effects of these mycotoxins. A total of 168 Hisex Brown layer hens, 37 wk of age, were randomized into a 3 × 2 + 1 factorial arrangement (3 diets with no binder containing AF, FU, and AF+FU; 3 diets with binder containing AF, FU, and AF+FU; and a control diet with no mycotoxins and binders), totaling 7 treatments. The hens contaminated with AF showed the characteristic effects of aflatoxicosis, such as a yellow liver, resulting from the accumulation of liver fat, lower values of plasma very low-density lipoprotein and triglycerides, and higher relative weight of the kidneys and liver. Hepatotoxic and nephrotoxic effects of FU were not observed in this study. On the other hand, the FU caused a reduction in small intestine length and an increase in abdominal fat deposition. The glucan-based binder prevented some of the deleterious effects of these mycotoxins, particularly the effects of AF on hepatic lipid metabolism, kidney relative weight, and FU in the small intestine. © 2013 Poultry Science Association Inc.

Desempenho produtivo e qualidade pós-colheita de genótipos de feijão do grupo comercial carioca cultivados na época de inverno-primavera

The objective of this work was to evaluate the agronomic performance and grain quality, especially the grain technological characteristics in the common bean genotypes, cultivated in winter-spring season. The experiment was carried out in Jaboticabal-SP, in a Rhodic Hapludox. The experimental design was a randomized block with 17 treatments (genotypes) with three replications. The plots had been composed for 17 carioca common bean group genotypes (Pérola, BRS Cometa, BRS Pontal, IPR Juriti, CNFC 10703, CNFC 10713, CNFC 10716, CNFC 10721, CNFC 10729, CNFC 10733, CNFC 10742, CNFC 10753, CNFC 10757, CNFC 10758, CNFC 10762, CNFC 10763 and CNFC 10813). BRS Pontal and CNFC 10716 showed simultaneously the higher number of per plant and grain yield. The technological characteristics more expressive was verified in CNFC 10703, CNFC 10713, CNFC 10758, CNFC 10813 and CNFC 10716 genotypes, principally about the protein content, cooking time and grain hydration capacity. The CNFC 10716 genotype detached as promissory, because their elevated agronomic performance and satisfactory technological characteristics.