THE EFFECT OF MOLDY WHEAT ON GROWTH, LIVABILITY AND THE INCIDENCE OF MYCOTIC INFECTION IN TURKEY POULTS

Four experiments are reported in which six moldy wheats were incorporated into the rations of turkey poults for a 6-week period.In only one of these did moldy wheat, used as the sole source of cereal grain in the starter, significantly (P < 0.05) lower body weights below those of the control rations.Assays of 40 samples of moldy wheats showed that only two (5 per cent) carried Aspergillus fumigatus, whereas Candida albicans was not found on any of them.Mortality was low in all experiments and could not be attributed to the dietary treatments.Pathological examination of 5 birds from each replicate (600 birds in all) showed that 58 carried minor lesions which were suspected of being mycotic. Isolates from these, which were incubated at 39 to 41 °C., produced some mold growth, but only one bird produced growth of A. fumigatus. None produced growth of C. albicans.