Digestion of dry matter and amino acids and energy utilization by chicks fed molded corn containing mycotoxins

A study was conducted to determine the ability of chicks to digest dry matter and amino acids and to utilize the energy from uncontaminated corn and contaminated corn containing mycotoxins. The contaminated corn contained either aflatoxin from natural molding, citrinin by artificially molding with a Penicillum spp., or ochratoxin by inoculation with Aspergillus ochraceus. Compared to uncontaminated corn, none of the criteria measured was affected in corn contaminated with aflatoxin. Dry matter digestibility, amino acid digestibility, and energy utilization were reduced (P less than .05) when corn was artificially molded with the Pencillium spp. and with A. ochraceus.