EFFECT ON DAM PERFORMANCE AND FETAL DEVELOPMENT OF DEOXYNIVALENOL (VOMITOXIN) CONTAMINATED WHEAT IN THE DIET OF PREGNANT GILTS

Abstract

From the time of breeding at an average age of 178 days and 121 kg bodyweight, three groups of 12 gilts each were offered ad libitum one of three diets containing 70% wheat and vomitoxin levels of 0.1 (C), 1.7 (M) and 3.5 (H) ppm. The gilts, housed and fed individually, were killed between days 50 and 54 of pregnancy and the reproductive tracts and some body organs were examined. The growth rate of gilts given diet H was less (P < 0.01) than that of other gilts, probably the result of a reduced feed intake. Differences in organ weights were not significant (P > 0.05). Fetal mortality rate, although least for gilts fed diet H, was not significantly different among diets. There was a significant linear trend toward lower fetal weight, decreased fetal length and reduced osmolality of allantoic fluid with increasing vomitoxin levels which could not, in this experiment, be attributed to a direct physiological or toxicological effect of vomitoxin. Key words: Fetal pig, gilt, pregnant, mycotoxin, vomitoxin, deoxynivalenol