USE OF MOLD INHIBITOR FOR FEED STORAGE AND IMPROVED CHICK PERFORMANCE

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of mold inhibitor in the ration which had two different protein levels (18% and 12%) and two different particle sizes (80 or 40% of the particles in the ration less than 1.19 mm). The experimental diets with ave. 12.7% moisture which were treated at the level of 0.1% mold inhibitor were stored under 85% humidity and at $29{\pm}1^{\circ}C$ for 10 to 40 days. In experiment 1, after 40 days of storage the $CO_2$ production in the feed treated with mold inhibitor was higher (p < 0.01) than when 40% of the ration's panicle size was 1.19 mm. Aflatoxin production in the experimental diet with mold inhibitor was affected (p<0.05) by the levels of protein and the different particle size ranges after 40 days storage. The interaction of protein levels and particle size ranges on the anatoxin and $CO_2$ production was significant (p<0.05) at 40 days storage. In experiment 2, there was a decrease in total body weight gain and total feed intake observed in chicks fed the untreated diet of 18% protein with 40% of the particles in the ration less than 1.19 mm stored for 40 days. Feed conversion was depressed (p<0.05) in the chicks fed the untreated diets of both particle sizes. Particle size X types of feed interaction in feed conversion was significant (p<0.05).