PATHOLOGICAL AND HISTOENZYMIC STUDIES ON THE TOXIC EFFECT OF MUSTARD OILCAKE (BRASSICA-JUNCEA) IN BROILER CHICKEN

The groundnut-cake (GNC) in broiler ration when replaced by mustard oi lcake at 20, 30, 50 and 100% level developed various clinical signs li ke dullness, inappetance and leg weakness and decrease in body weight in birds at 50 and 100% replacements. Histopathologically liver showed degenerative changes, mild biliary epithelial cell proliferation and lymphoidal follicle formation. Tubular degeneration and focal areas of necrosis were observed in kidneys. in the intestine there was desquam ation of the lining epithelium, and the cardiac muscle showed lymphoid al follicles formation. Histochemically, alterations in the activities of LDH, SDH and G-6-PD were present mainly in liver and kidneys. The study suggests that the MOC, a vegetable protein source, which is chea per than GNC, can be substituted up to 30% in bl oiler ration without having any pathological effect.