Effects of Montmorillonite on Growth Performance, Serum Biochemistry and Oxidative Stress of Red-Crowned Crane (Grus japonensis) Fed Mycotoxin-Contaminated Feed

Background: The red-crowned crane (Grus japonensis) is one of the most vulnerable bird species in the world. Mycotoxins are toxic secondary metabolites produced by fungi and considered naturally unavoidable contaminants in animal feed. Our recent survey indicated that the mycotoxins had the potential to contaminate redcrowned crane’s regular diets in China. Objective: This experiment was conducted to investigate the protective effects of mycotoxin binder montmorillonite (Mont) on growth performance, serum biochemistry and oxidative stress parameters of the red-crowned crane. Methods: 16 red-crowned cranes were divided into four groups and fed one of the following diets; a selected diet, regular diet, or the selected diet or regular diet with 0.5% montmorillonite added to the diets. The cranes' parameters of performance, hematology, serum biochemistry and serum oxidative stress were measured. Results: Consuming regular diets decreased the average daily feed intake (ADFI), levels of haemoglobin (Hb), platelet count (PLT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and catalase (CAT), but increased the activities of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), creatine kinase (CK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). The supplementation of 0.5% Mont provided protection for the red-crowned crane in terms of feed intake, serum biochemistry and oxidative stress. Moreover, Mont supplementation had no adverse effect on the health of red-crowned crane. Conclusions: Taken together, these findings suggested that the addition of dietary Mont is effective in improving the health of red-crowned crane.