Quote:
I'd be concerned about the pellets getting old.
I wouldn't worry about it to much. Some of the grain sits in the silos for years.
YOU MAY WISH TO RETHINK THIS...
A mycotoxicosis is a disease caused by a toxin produced by a fungus. In poultry, this usually results when fungi grow in grains and feeds. Hundreds of mycotoxins have been identified and many are pathogenic. Mycotoxins may have additive or even synergistic effects with other mycotoxins, infectious agents, and nutritional deficiencies. Many are chemically stable and maintain toxicity over time.
The significance of mycotoxin problems in poultry is probably considerable but yet insidious. The impact on poultry production may be best measured indirectly by the improvements in weight gain, feed efficiency, pigmentation, egg production, and reproductive performance that accompany effective control programs for mycotoxins.
Aflatoxicosis: The aflatoxins are toxic and carcinogenic metabolites of Aspergillus flavus , A parasiticus , and others. Aflatoxicosis in poultry primarily affects the liver, but can involve immunologic, digestive, and hematopoietic functions. It affects weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion efficiency, pigmentation, processing yield, egg production, male and female fertility, and hatchability. Some effects are directly attributable to toxins, while others are indirect, such as reduced feed intake. Susceptibility to aflatoxins varies, but in general, ducklings, turkeys, and pheasants are susceptible, while chickens, Japanese quail, and guinea fowl are relatively resistant.
Aflatoxicosis, fatty liver, chicken
Clinical signs vary from general unthriftiness to high morbidity and mortality. At necropsy, the lesions are found mainly in the liver, which can be reddened due to necrosis and congestion or yellow due to lipid accumulation. Hemorrhages may also occur. In chronic aflatoxicosis, the liver becomes yellow to gray and atrophied. The aflatoxins are carcinogenic, but tumor formation is rare with the natural disease, probably because the animals do not live long enough for this to occur.
FURTHERMORE, EVER WONDER WHY THERE ARENT ANY DECENT "ORGANIC" GAMEBIRD FEEDS READILY COMMERCIALLY PRODUCED AND AVAILABLE? SEE THAT HIGHLIGHTED NAME UP THERE? ASPERGILLIS IS A FAVORITE PROTIEN SOURCE FOR THE "ORGANIC/ GMO FREE" CROWD