PATHOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF FEEDING COTTONSEED MEAL WITH AND WITHOUT LYSINE IN MALE JAPANESE QUAILS (COTURNIX JAPONICA)  

Department of Veterinary Pathology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan

Abstract

        A total of 84 male Japanese quails (Coturnix japonica) of 40 days of age were randomly divided into seven groups (A to G) with 12 birds in each group. A corn and soybean meal based feed having 25% proteins was offered to group A (control) as a basal feed.  Three isonitric and isocaloric experimental feeds prepared by replacing soybean meal with varying proportions of cottonseed meal (CSM) were offered to groups B and C (13% CSM), D and E (27% CSM) and F and G (41% CSM). Feeds of groups C, E and G were also supplemented with 2% lysine. Duration of experiment was 42 days. Frequency of mounting, crowing and presence of foamy droppings were lower in groups having high percentage of CSM. Body weights of CSM fed groups were significantly lower from that of control group till week 5 and dietary supplementation of lysine rendered this difference non significant. Differences in body weights at week 6, however, were non significant between control and treated groups.  At week 3, testicular weight of birds in groups B and F were significantly lower than that of control, while lysine supplementation rendered this difference non significant. Seminiferous tubules of all CSM fed groups had necrotic cells characterized by dark and small pyknotic nuclei of round spermatids in some tubules. Liver of groups D, E, F and G had cytoplasmic vacoulation of hepatocytes and newly formed bile ducts.  Supplementation of lysine in experimental CSM feeds partially ameliorated the effects of CSM on body weight, testes weight and clinical signs.