Abstract
Experiments were conducted with rats and swine to determine the potential of dietary alfalfa as a treatment for zearalenone (Z) toxicosis. Ninety-six female weanling Wistar rats were fed a casein-based semipurified diet containing 0, 15 or 25% alfalfa and 0 or 250 µg Z/g feed. Exposure to Z for 14 d resulted in reduced growth, feed consumption and feed efficiency as well as kidney and liver enlargement and reduced activity of 3α-hydroxy steroid dehydrogenase (3α-HSD). Z had no effect on uterine weight. Including alfalfa in these diets reduced the inhibitory effects of Z on growth and feed consumption, minimized Z-induced liver enlargement and increased hepatic 3α-HSD activity. Dietary alfalfa also reduced concentrations of residual Z and zearalenols (Zl) in liver. In a second experiment, 108 Yorkshire gilts weighing 8 to 11 kg were fed diets containing 0, 15 or 25% alfalfa and 0,10, 20 or 40µg Z/g feed for 4 wk. Z caused uterine enlargement when fed as low as 10 µg/g feed, although no effects were seen in growth rate, feed consumption or feed efficiency. Alfalfa decreased uterine enlargement (P<.05), but caused a depression in feed efficiency (P<.05). Hepatic 3α-HSD activity was five times lower in swine than in rats, although activity still tended to decrease with Z and increase with alfalfa feeding. Residues of Z and Zl in pig liver indicated species differences in the metabolism of Z. These studies show that dietary alfalfa promotes Z metabolism in rats and that this feedstuff may also be useful for treating Z toxicosis in livestock. Copyright © 1982. American Society of Animal Science . Copyright 1982 by American Society of Animal Science