The performance, the weights of some organs, and the vulvae morphology in pre-pubertal gilts fed diets containing zearalenone were evaluated during 28 days. The experimental design was completely randomized with two treatments (control diet, ZD - control diet + 2mg kg-1 of zearalenone) and six replications of each were done. No differences (P>0.05) between treatments for daily feed intake (1.24 x 1.19kg), average daily gain (0.68 x 0.71kg), feed conversion ratio (1.86 x 1.71), and live weight (30.9 x 30.4kg) were observed. Zearalenone did not change (P>0.05) the absolute and relative weights of heart (137 x 141g and 0.45 x 0.45%BW), liver (699 x 699g and 2.31 x 2.26%BW), kidneys (47 x 49g and 0.15 x 0.16%BW), and spleen (166 x 171g and 0.55 x 0.55% BW). However, zearalenone increased (P<0.05) the length (17 x 27cm) and weight (23 x 157g and 0.07 x 0.51%BW) of the reproductive tract. The final vulvae volume was 820% larger (P<0.05) in gilts fed diets containing zearalenone than those fed control diet (941 x 8658mm³/kgBW0.6). Results suggested that zearalenone and its metabolites have an estrogenic activity in pigs without changing the animal performance.
pig; performance; hyperestrogenism; mycotoxin
