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Effect of Energy on the Performance of Broiler Chicks Fed Various Levels of Monensin1
Effect of Energy on the Performance of Broiler Chicks Fed Various Levels of Monensin 1 R. B. CHRISTMAS and R. H. HARMS Poultry Science Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611 (Received for publication August 1, 1985) ABSTRACT A total of 768 female broiler chicks in two experiments was fed diets containing 0, 100, or 120 mg monensin/kg of diet with and without added animal fat, in a 2 x 3 factorial design. Chicks were grown in electrically heated battery brooders and supplied feed and water ad libitum for 21 days. Animal fat fed at 6.8% of the diet consistently improved body weight, daily feed intake, and feed conversion regardless of monensin level. Monensin at 100 and 120 mg/kg of diet, in general, decreased these performance criteria progressively. Daily monensin intake was related to the concentration of monensin in the diet. Intake per unit of body weight was increased by reducing fat or increasing monensin. (Key words: broiler chicks, monensin, animal fat, energy, body weight) 1988 Poultry Science 67:452-454 INTRODUCTION
Monensin is used by the poultry industry as a coccidiostat. However, body weight is often reduced in monensin-fed broilers (Damron, et al. 1977; Chappel and Babcock, 1979;Marusich and De Young, 1979). Reduced feed intake appears to be responsible for the reduction in body weight. Several investigators (Bartov and Jensen, 1980; Parsons and Baker, 1982; Christmas and Harms, 1983) reported that increased methionine or protein intake can partially alleviate the body weight depression often observed with monensin. Also, Christmas and Harms (1983) demonstrated that reduced body weight caused by dietary monensin could be overcome by supplementation with selected nutrients (in addition to protein and sulfur amino acids). This confirmed decreased feed intake to be the primary cause of reduced body weight from feeding monensin. Christmas and Harms (1984) also determined that broiler chicks were much more affected by monensin than were Leghorns. Lower daily feed intake (thus lower monensin intake) of the Leghorns could be an explanation for these divergent results. Any limiting dietary factor therefore may be a concern when monensin is added to the diet. Parsons et al. (1984) suggested that dietary energy and protein interrelationships might also be involved in monensin-related problems. Bartov (1987) concluded that monensin toxicity might be alleviated by increasing protein and fat levels
'Florida Agricultural Experiment Station Journal Series Number 6640. 452
in the chick diet. Bafundo (1986) reported that coccidiosis control offered by monensin was independent of protein or energy content of the diet. As energy level in the diet affects feed intake, addition of fat could have an influence on the effect of monensin in the diet. The desire for additional information on this subject led to the studies reported herein. MATERIALS AND METHODS
A total of 384 female broiler chicks was used in each of two identical experiments. Dietary variables were energy level (plus or minus animal fat) and monensin sodium assigned in a 2 X 3 factorial design. Basal diets were formulated to be similar in nutrient:energy ratios. The nutrients equalized to calories were calcium, phosphorus, protein, arginine, sulfur amino acids, and lysine. Diets differed in that Basal 1 contained 6.77% added animal fat (Table 1), 20.15% crude protein, and 3,241 kcal ME/kg, whereas Basal 2 contained no animal fat and 18.86% crude protein and 3,012 kcal ME/kg. To each of the two basal diets was added either 0, 100, or 120 mg/kg monensin as monensin sodium. Each treatment consisted of eight replicates each containing eight broiler females. Birds were placed in electrically heated battery brooders where water and diets were supplied ad libitum. At the end of a 21-day period, individual body weights and replicate feed intake and feed conversion values were determined. Data were subjected to a two-way analysis of variance as described by Snedecor and Cochran (1967). There were no significant
MONENSIN AND ENERGY EFFECT ON BROILER CHICKS TABLE 1. Composition of basal diets Ingredients
1 (Fat)
2 (No fat)
Yellow corn Soybean meal (48.5% protein) Animal fat Ground limestone Dicalcium phosphate (18.5% P, 22% Ca) Iodized salt Micro ingredients^ Sand and additives
57.50
68.97
31.34 6.77 1.27
26.66
1.65
1.65
.42 .51 .55
.39 .51 .55
1.27
'Supplied per kilogram of diet: vitamin A, 6,600 IU; vitamin D3, 2,000 ICU; menadione dimethylpyrimidinol bisulfite, 2.2 mg; riboflavin, 4.4 mg; pantothenic acid, 13.2 mg; niacin, 39.6 mg; choline pyrimidinol bisulfite, 2.2 mg; riboflavin, 4.4 mg; pantothenic acid, 13.2 mg; niacin, 39.6 mg; choline chloride, 499.4 mg; vitamin Bj2, 22 Mg; ethoxyquin, 125 mg; manganese, 60 mg; iron, 50 mg; copper, 6 mg; cobalt, .198 mg; iodine 1.1 mg; zinc, 3 5 mg.
experiment x treatment interactions; consequently, experiments were combined for summarization. Differences among treatment means were determined by procedures outlined by Duncan (1955). RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The addition of monensin to the diet resulted in a progressive reduction in body weight with
453
and without added animal fat (Table 2). Even though the addition of 120 mg/kg monensin resulted in relatively lower body weights than observed with addition of 100 mg/kg monensin, differences were not significant. The addition of animal fat in each case improved body weights of chicks regardless of monensin level. The fat-related improvement was greater in the presence of monensin at both addition levels. when compared to improvement in controls; however, these increases were not significantly different, as no significant energy x monensin level interaction was observed. Added fat in the diet did not significantly alter daily feed intake regardless of the presence or absence of monensin (Table 2). When either level of monensin was added to the diet, feed intake was reduced. The addition of fat improved feed conversion significantly over that observed with diets not containing animal fat regardless of monensin level (Table 2). There were no differences within fat treatment due to the addition of monensin; however, graded levels of monensin decreased feed conversion performance as level increased. Daily monensin intake was not affected by the presence of fat in the diet and changed only with the level of monensin (Table 2). Monensin intake per unit of body weight was increased in chickens not fed the supplemental fat or as a result of a higher level of monensin in the diet. All four values indicating monensin intake per unit of body weight were significantly different.
TABLE 2. Effect of energy and monensin relationships on performance of the day-old brcnler chick Dietary monensir ] level, mg/kg Variable Bw, g Plus fat No fat Daily feed intake, g Plus fat No fat Feed conversion, g/g Plus fat No fat Daily monensin intake, mg Plus fat No fat Monensin, mg/kg bw Plus fat No fat
100
0
538* 495c
519ab 46 l d
120
505 b 452d
38.23* b 38.63*
36.69bc 36.30 c
1.43 b 1.58*
1.45 b 1.60*
1.45° 1.63*
0 0
3.67 b 3.63 b
4.34* 4.23*
0 0
.145 d .160C
Within-variables, means with no common superscripts are significantly different (P<.05).
36.15 c 35.96 c
.174 b .196*
CHRISTMAS AND HARMS
454
These data and previous reports (Damron et al., 1977; Chappel and Babcock, 1979; Marusich and De Young, 1979) have substantiated the fact that the higher the intake of the drug monensin, the greater the body weight depression. The addition or removal of fat or other energy source in the diet can markedly affect the intake of drug per unit of body weight and thus result in a possibility for body weight depression. Consequently when monensin is fed, dietary design should be an important consideration with all classes of poultry. REFERENCES Bafundo, K. W., 1986. Monensin efficacy in rations containing suboptimal energy or protein. Poultry Sci. 65:1076-1083. Bartov, I., and L. S. Jensen, 1980. Effect of dietary ingredients on monensin toxicity in chicks. Poultry Sci. 59:1818-1823. Bartov, I., 1987. Effect of dietary fat and protein levels on monensin toxicity in broiler chicks. Poultry Sci. 66:1385-1391. Bartov, I., and L. S. Jensen, 1980. Effect of dietary ingredients on monensin toxicity in chicks. Poultry Sci. 59:1818-1823.Bafundo, K. W., 1986. Monensin efficacy in rations containing suboptimal energy or protein. Poultry Sci. 65:1076-1083.
Chappel, L. R., and W. E. Babcock, 1979. Field trials comparing salinomycin (Coxistac), monensin and lasalocid in the control of coccidiosis in broilers. Poultry Sci. 58:304-307. Christmas, R. B., and R. H. Harms, 1983. The effect of protein level and/or other selected dietary nutrients on broiler chicks receiving monensin. Nutr. Rep. Int. 28:1105-1109. Christmas, R. B., and R. H. Harms, 1984. Performance of Leghorn and broiler day-old male chicks as affected by dietary monensin levels. Nutr. Rep. Int. 30:14311434. Damron, B. L., R. H. Harms, A. S. Arafa, and D. M. Janky, 1977. The effect of dietary lasalocid or monensin, roxarsome and graded methoinine levels on broiler performance and processing characteristics. Poultry Sci. 56:1487-1491. Duncan, D. R., 1955. Multiple range and multiple F tests. Biometrics 11:1-42. Marusich, W. L., and De Young, 1979. The effect of graded methoinine level fed with lasalocid or monensin on broiler performance, feathering, pigmentation and processing parameters. Poultry Sci. 58:1082. (Abstr.) Parsons, C. M., and D. H. Baker, 1982. Effect of dietary protein level and monensin on performance of chicks. Poultry Sci. 61:2083-2088. Parsons, C. M., M. S. Edmonds, and D. H. Baker, 1984. Influence of dietary electrolyte balance, energy, and amino acid supplementation on the monensin response in chicks fed diets varying in protein content. Poultry Sci. 63:2438-2443. Snedecor, G. W., and W. G. Cochran, 1967. Statistical Methods. 6th ed. Iowa State College Press, Ames, IA.
Monensin is used by the poultry industry as a coccidiostat. However, body weight is often reduced in monensin-fed broilers (Damron, et al. 1977; Chappel and Babcock, 1979;Marusich and De Young, 1979). Reduced feed intake appears to be responsible for the reduction in body weight. Several investigators (Bartov and Jensen, 1980; Parsons and Baker, 1982; Christmas and Harms, 1983) reported that increased methionine or protein intake can partially alleviate the body weight depression often observed with monensin. Also, Christmas and Harms (1983) demonstrated that reduced body weight caused by dietary monensin could be overcome by supplementation with selected nutrients (in addition to protein and sulfur amino acids). This confirmed decreased feed intake to be the primary cause of reduced body weight from feeding monensin. Christmas and Harms (1984) also determined that broiler chicks were much more affected by monensin than were Leghorns. Lower daily feed intake (thus lower monensin intake) of the Leghorns could be an explanation for these divergent results. Any limiting dietary factor therefore may be a concern when monensin is added to the diet. Parsons et al. (1984) suggested that dietary energy and protein interrelationships might also be involved in monensin-related problems. Bartov (1987) concluded that monensin toxicity might be alleviated by increasing protein and fat levels
'Florida Agricultural Experiment Station Journal Series Number 6640. 452
in the chick diet. Bafundo (1986) reported that coccidiosis control offered by monensin was independent of protein or energy content of the diet. As energy level in the diet affects feed intake, addition of fat could have an influence on the effect of monensin in the diet. The desire for additional information on this subject led to the studies reported herein. MATERIALS AND METHODS
A total of 384 female broiler chicks was used in each of two identical experiments. Dietary variables were energy level (plus or minus animal fat) and monensin sodium assigned in a 2 X 3 factorial design. Basal diets were formulated to be similar in nutrient:energy ratios. The nutrients equalized to calories were calcium, phosphorus, protein, arginine, sulfur amino acids, and lysine. Diets differed in that Basal 1 contained 6.77% added animal fat (Table 1), 20.15% crude protein, and 3,241 kcal ME/kg, whereas Basal 2 contained no animal fat and 18.86% crude protein and 3,012 kcal ME/kg. To each of the two basal diets was added either 0, 100, or 120 mg/kg monensin as monensin sodium. Each treatment consisted of eight replicates each containing eight broiler females. Birds were placed in electrically heated battery brooders where water and diets were supplied ad libitum. At the end of a 21-day period, individual body weights and replicate feed intake and feed conversion values were determined. Data were subjected to a two-way analysis of variance as described by Snedecor and Cochran (1967). There were no significant
MONENSIN AND ENERGY EFFECT ON BROILER CHICKS TABLE 1. Composition of basal diets Ingredients
1 (Fat)
2 (No fat)
Yellow corn Soybean meal (48.5% protein) Animal fat Ground limestone Dicalcium phosphate (18.5% P, 22% Ca) Iodized salt Micro ingredients^ Sand and additives
57.50
68.97
31.34 6.77 1.27
26.66
1.65
1.65
.42 .51 .55
.39 .51 .55
1.27
'Supplied per kilogram of diet: vitamin A, 6,600 IU; vitamin D3, 2,000 ICU; menadione dimethylpyrimidinol bisulfite, 2.2 mg; riboflavin, 4.4 mg; pantothenic acid, 13.2 mg; niacin, 39.6 mg; choline pyrimidinol bisulfite, 2.2 mg; riboflavin, 4.4 mg; pantothenic acid, 13.2 mg; niacin, 39.6 mg; choline chloride, 499.4 mg; vitamin Bj2, 22 Mg; ethoxyquin, 125 mg; manganese, 60 mg; iron, 50 mg; copper, 6 mg; cobalt, .198 mg; iodine 1.1 mg; zinc, 3 5 mg.
experiment x treatment interactions; consequently, experiments were combined for summarization. Differences among treatment means were determined by procedures outlined by Duncan (1955). RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The addition of monensin to the diet resulted in a progressive reduction in body weight with
453
and without added animal fat (Table 2). Even though the addition of 120 mg/kg monensin resulted in relatively lower body weights than observed with addition of 100 mg/kg monensin, differences were not significant. The addition of animal fat in each case improved body weights of chicks regardless of monensin level. The fat-related improvement was greater in the presence of monensin at both addition levels. when compared to improvement in controls; however, these increases were not significantly different, as no significant energy x monensin level interaction was observed. Added fat in the diet did not significantly alter daily feed intake regardless of the presence or absence of monensin (Table 2). When either level of monensin was added to the diet, feed intake was reduced. The addition of fat improved feed conversion significantly over that observed with diets not containing animal fat regardless of monensin level (Table 2). There were no differences within fat treatment due to the addition of monensin; however, graded levels of monensin decreased feed conversion performance as level increased. Daily monensin intake was not affected by the presence of fat in the diet and changed only with the level of monensin (Table 2). Monensin intake per unit of body weight was increased in chickens not fed the supplemental fat or as a result of a higher level of monensin in the diet. All four values indicating monensin intake per unit of body weight were significantly different.
TABLE 2. Effect of energy and monensin relationships on performance of the day-old brcnler chick Dietary monensir ] level, mg/kg Variable Bw, g Plus fat No fat Daily feed intake, g Plus fat No fat Feed conversion, g/g Plus fat No fat Daily monensin intake, mg Plus fat No fat Monensin, mg/kg bw Plus fat No fat
100
0
538* 495c
519ab 46 l d
120
505 b 452d
38.23* b 38.63*
36.69bc 36.30 c
1.43 b 1.58*
1.45 b 1.60*
1.45° 1.63*
0 0
3.67 b 3.63 b
4.34* 4.23*
0 0
.145 d .160C
Within-variables, means with no common superscripts are significantly different (P<.05).
36.15 c 35.96 c
.174 b .196*
CHRISTMAS AND HARMS
454
These data and previous reports (Damron et al., 1977; Chappel and Babcock, 1979; Marusich and De Young, 1979) have substantiated the fact that the higher the intake of the drug monensin, the greater the body weight depression. The addition or removal of fat or other energy source in the diet can markedly affect the intake of drug per unit of body weight and thus result in a possibility for body weight depression. Consequently when monensin is fed, dietary design should be an important consideration with all classes of poultry. REFERENCES Bafundo, K. W., 1986. Monensin efficacy in rations containing suboptimal energy or protein. Poultry Sci. 65:1076-1083. Bartov, I., and L. S. Jensen, 1980. Effect of dietary ingredients on monensin toxicity in chicks. Poultry Sci. 59:1818-1823. Bartov, I., 1987. Effect of dietary fat and protein levels on monensin toxicity in broiler chicks. Poultry Sci. 66:1385-1391. Bartov, I., and L. S. Jensen, 1980. Effect of dietary ingredients on monensin toxicity in chicks. Poultry Sci. 59:1818-1823.Bafundo, K. W., 1986. Monensin efficacy in rations containing suboptimal energy or protein. Poultry Sci. 65:1076-1083.
Chappel, L. R., and W. E. Babcock, 1979. Field trials comparing salinomycin (Coxistac), monensin and lasalocid in the control of coccidiosis in broilers. Poultry Sci. 58:304-307. Christmas, R. B., and R. H. Harms, 1983. The effect of protein level and/or other selected dietary nutrients on broiler chicks receiving monensin. Nutr. Rep. Int. 28:1105-1109. Christmas, R. B., and R. H. Harms, 1984. Performance of Leghorn and broiler day-old male chicks as affected by dietary monensin levels. Nutr. Rep. Int. 30:14311434. Damron, B. L., R. H. Harms, A. S. Arafa, and D. M. Janky, 1977. The effect of dietary lasalocid or monensin, roxarsome and graded methoinine levels on broiler performance and processing characteristics. Poultry Sci. 56:1487-1491. Duncan, D. R., 1955. Multiple range and multiple F tests. Biometrics 11:1-42. Marusich, W. L., and De Young, 1979. The effect of graded methoinine level fed with lasalocid or monensin on broiler performance, feathering, pigmentation and processing parameters. Poultry Sci. 58:1082. (Abstr.) Parsons, C. M., and D. H. Baker, 1982. Effect of dietary protein level and monensin on performance of chicks. Poultry Sci. 61:2083-2088. Parsons, C. M., M. S. Edmonds, and D. H. Baker, 1984. Influence of dietary electrolyte balance, energy, and amino acid supplementation on the monensin response in chicks fed diets varying in protein content. Poultry Sci. 63:2438-2443. Snedecor, G. W., and W. G. Cochran, 1967. Statistical Methods. 6th ed. Iowa State College Press, Ames, IA.