Feed preference and feeding behaviours in grower broilers fed diets containing wheat naturally contaminated with...

1. Two trials were conducted to determine the effect of feeding diets contaminated with fusarium mycotoxins (primarily deoxynivalenol (DON)) on broiler chicken feed preference, feeding behaviour and growth performance. 2. A total of 120 male Ross 308 chicks (4 birds/cage, 30 cages) were fed a common corn-based starter diet from 1 to 20 d of age. At 21 d, 15 cages were randomly assigned to the feed preference trial or a feeding behaviour trial. Three wheat-based experimental diets (0.14, 2.27 and 5.84 mg/kg DON) were prepared with a clean wheat and a naturally contaminated wheat. Broilers were ad libitum fed the experimental diets during 21-27 d. 3. In the preference trial, each cage's feeder was split into two equal-sized compartments so birds were provided a choice of two diets (control vs. low, control vs. high and low vs. high DON). In the feeding behaviour trial, diets were randomly assigned to 15 cages (5 cages/diet). Feeding and drinking behaviour was recorded for 1 h before and after the dark period and 1-h period at 9 h after the light was turned on (middle of day). Growth performance was assessed at 27 d. 4. In the preference trial, broilers preferred the control diet over low (93.0 vs. 66.1 g/d, P < 0.01) and high (104.4 vs. 50.4 g/d, P < 0.01) DON diets. At all three timepoints, where behaviour was recorded, birds offered the DON diets spent more time at the feeder compared to birds provided control diets (P < 0.05). Control birds had lower feed to gain ratio (1.65) than birds fed low (1.82) and high (1.94) DON diets (P < 0.01). 5. It is clear that broilers are sensitive to the presence of fusarium mycotoxins and that moderate levels of DON negatively affect feed preference and growth performance when fed during the grower period.