Effect of Dietary Ingredients on Monensin Toxicity in Chicks

Abstract

A corn-soybean (CS) diet and diets containing medium or high levels of animal protein (AP) calculated to contain the same concentrations of the main nutrients promoted essentially the same growth rate and feed utilization in 20-day-old chicks. Supplementation with monensin sodium (100 or 120 mg/kg) depressed growth rate of the chicks fed all three diets. However, effect of the drug was much more severe in chicks fed the diets containing AP. This interaction resulted in significant (P < .05) differences in body weights between chicks fed the CS diet and PA diets. Moreover, feed-to-gain ratio was significantly (P < .05) adversely affected by monensin only in chicks fed the AP diets. Supplementation of the high AP diet with extra vitamin E, a mixture of arginine and tryptophan, or a mixture of silicon, chromium, and molybdenum failed to prevent the growth depression caused by monensin. These studies demonstrate that ingredient composition of diets for broiler chicks affects the magnitude of growth depression caused by monensin supplementation.

Performance of Healthy and Eimeria acervulina-lnfected Chicks as Influenced by Anticoccidial Drugs and Source of Dietary Protein

“…Although feeding monensin significantly depresses growth in some experiments, it has virtually no effect in other experiments. A recent report by Bartov and Jensen (1980) may offer an explanation for this inconsistency. These workers found that monensin depressed the growth of healthy birds to a greater degree when fed in diets containing a relatively high level of animal-source protein.…”

Effect of growth promoters on monensin toxicity in broiler chicks1

“…According to other data, the effect of monensin on food efficiency is not consistent. It was not affected in studies reported by Christmas and Harms (1984), Welch et al (1986) and Bartov (1987), while in others (Bartov and Jensen, 1980;Parsons and Baker, 1982;Parsons et al, 1984;Bartov, 1987) C, E and R: nutrient consumed, excreted and retained, respectively. 4 RR: relative retention.…”

“…99 to 121 mg/kg diet (Damron et al, 1977;Bartov and Jensen, 1980;Welch et al, 1986). Higher concentrations (140 or 150 mg/kg) severely depress weight gain (Welch et al, 1986;Bartov, 1987).…”

“…The depressing effect of monensin on growth is mainly caused by its effect in decreasing food intake (Parsons and Baker, 1982;Welch et al, 1986;Bartov, 1987). The toxicity of monensin to young chicks might be dependent on various dietary factors such as dietary ingredients (Bartov and Jensen, 1980), type of fat (Bartov, 1987) and concentrations of protein (Parsons and Baker, 1982;Parsons et al, 1984;Welch et al, 1986) or fat (Bartov, 1987).…”

Monensin toxicity in two breeds of laying hens

“…99 to 121 mg/kg ration (Damron et al, 1977;Bartov & Jensen, 1980;Welch et al, 1986). Higher concentrations (140 or 150 mg/kg) severely depress weight gain (Welch et al, 1986;Bartov, 1987).…”