Comparative effects of antifungal compounds on the nutritional value of diets containing moldy corn for broiler chicks.

Propionic acid (.3%), sorbic acid (.3%), and Agrosil (.6%) were equally effective in preventing the decrease in fat in diets containing moldy corn (the fat content of which was restored by soybean oil) during 25 days of storage and in completely maintaining the nutritional value of the diets as evaluated by chick performance. Lower levels of either sorbic acid (.05%) or Agrosil (.1 and .3%) were not effective. None of the fungistats were able to prevent the decrease in dietary fat after storage periods longer than 50 days, but this decrease was consistently and significantly (P less than .05) slower in the propionic acid-supplemented diet.