North American origin of sclerotia: A mixture of sphacelia and sclerotia, obtained by cleaning seed from grain sorghum hybrid seed production fields near Uvalde and Dumas, Texas, were used in feeding trials with poultry (broilers). The total alkaloid content for these mixtures were 11.3 ppm for the Uvalde source and 235 ppm for the Dumas source. There was no significant mortality or obvious symptoms of ergot toxicity in three experiments. However, effects of ergot feeding were seen in all the experiments. In one experiment, liver weights were increased after three weeks of feeding. In another experiment, weight gain was reduced in the fourth week and the cumulative feed-to-gain ratios were higher. In a third experiment, feed efficiency was reduced. The authors of these studies concluded that there is slight toxicity of ergot to poultry and suggest that concentrations less than 1 or 2% are not likely to result in significant mortality or obvious symptoms of toxicity.

Source: C.A. Bailey, J.J. Fazzino, Jr., M.S. Ziehr, M. Sattar, A.U. Haq, G. Odvody, and J.K. Porter. Evaluation of sorghum ergot toxicity in broilers. Poultry Science 78:1391-1397, 1999.

Disclaimer:  The information given is for educational purposes only. Reference to commercial products or trade names is made with the understanding that no discrimination is intended and no endorsement by the Texas Agricultural Extension Service or Texas A&M University is implied. Extension programs serve people of all ages regardless of socioeconomic level, race, color, sex, religion, disability or national origin. The Texas A&M University System, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the County Commissioners Courts of Texas Cooperating.