EFFECTS OF SORGHUM ERGOT IN DIETS FOR NURSERY PIGS

Authors: DEAN, D - KANSAS STATE UNIV; HINES, R - KANSAS STATE UNIV; HANCOCK, J - KANSAS STATE UNIV; KENNEDY, G - KANSAS STATE UNIV; Porter, James; MALONEY, C - KANSAS STATE UNIV; DEROUCHEY, J - KANSAS STATE UNIV; LEE, D - KANSAS STATE UNIV; PARK, J - KANSAS STATE UNIV; CAO, H - KANSAS STATE UNIV

Submitted to: Journal of Animal Science Supplement
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/1/1999
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Abstract - No interpretive summary required.

Technical Abstract: Two experiments were conducted to determine the effects of ergot (Claviceps africana)-contaminated sorghum grain in diets of nursery pigs. All pigs were fed the same complex diets (nutrients/vitamins/etc.) for 7 days and then changed to experimental sorghum-based diets. In Experiment 1, 48 crossbred barrows and gilts (body weight average 4.8 kg) were allotted to pens based on sex and ancestry and fed diets (32 day growth assay) with: (a.) normal sorghum (NS, controls), or (b.) ergot (C. africana)-infected sorghum (ES; alkaloid concentration dihydroergosine 3.4 mg/kg feed). Relative to the NS treatments, average daily gains and average daily feed intake were reduced 17% & 21.8% (P<0.05) respectively, in the ES treatment. In Experiment 2, 48 crossbred barrows and gilts (body weight average 4.9 kg) were blocked as above (28 day growth assay) in which the treatment were: (a.) NS, (b.) 50% NS/ES, and (c.) ES (alkaloid concentration 0, 1.7, & 3.4 mg/kg feed, respectively). Relative to the NS treatment, average daily gains and average daily feed intake were decreased 5.5% and 5.75% in the NS/ES treatment, and 16.7% and 17.78%, respectively, in the ES treatment. Ergot (C. africana)-infected sorghum grain at concentrations >1.7 mg/kg markedly decreased average daily gains and average daily feed intake in nursery pigs.