ENZYMATIC AND ANATOMOPATHOLOGICAL STUDY O F LAYING HENS FEEDING ON LUPINUS-ALBUS SEEDS (SWEET AND BITTER) FOR 22 WEEKS

The effect produced by the incorporation of lupinus albus var. Multolu pa seeds in the rations of laying hens was studied. One hundred and si xty (34 week old) White Leghorn hens (Shaver Starcross 288) were divid ed into 4 groups. These hens were fed with a basal diet plus 10% lupin e seeds, with different percentages of alkaloids, for 22 weeks. The he ns were kept in individual coops. They were fed daily with 112.5 g/fow l and water was given ad-libitum. The enzymatic study was carried out by measuring the activity of aspartate-aminotransferase, alanine-amino transferase and alkaline phosphatase enzimes. Liver, brain and kidney samples were collected in order to perform macro and microscopic analy sis. A mortality record was kept. There were no enzymatic values indic ating disorder in the hepatic functions due to the lupine seeds. The m ain morphological alterations were degenerative and necrotic changes i n the brain. Degenerative changes were observed in the tubular portion s of the kidney. In similar proportions, within the groups, degenerati ve changes were observed in the liver. In conclusion, the bitter lupin e seeds (2.63% of total alkaloids), incorporated as 10% of the ration of laying hens, during the first phase of laying, do not produce alter ations in the tissues examined.