PATHOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF COTTONSEED MEAL WITH AND
WITHOUT FERROUS SULPHATE IN MALE JAPANESE QUAILS (COTURNIX JAPONICA)
M. S. ANWAR, M. Z. KHAN, I.
JAVED1, A. KHAN AND M. K. SALEEMI
Department of
Pathology and 1Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of
Agriculture,
Faisalabad (38040), Pakistan
Abstract
This experiment was designed to study the toxic effects of cottonseed
meal in Japanese quails.A
total of 84 male Japanese quails (Coturnix
japonica) of 40 days of age were randomly divided into seven equal
groups (A to G). Group A was fed on control diet, while 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 0.065, 0.135 and 0.205%
ferrous sulphate, respectively. Duration of experiment was 42 days.
Frequency of mounting, crowing and presence of foamy droppings were
lower in groups receiving high percentage of CSM. Body weights of groups
D and F were significantly lower, while addition of ferrous sulphate in
feed rendered this difference non-significant, in groups E and G.
Relative weights of liver and kidneys were significantly higher in group
Fcompared tocontrol group. A non significant difference was seen in feed
intake among all the groups throughout the experiment. At 21 days, serum
albumin was significantly lower in groups B, C and G compared to
control. At 21 days, significantly lower serum total proteins was
observed in groups B, C, D, E and Gcompared to control. Seminiferous tubules of all CSM fed groups
had necrotic cells, characterized by dark and small pyknotic nuclei
among round spermatids in some tubules. Liver of groups B, C, D and E
had cytoplasmic vacoulation of hepatocytes and newly formed bile ducts.Supplementation of ferrous sulphate in experimental feeds
partially ameliorated the effects of cottonseed meal on body weight,
testes weight, feed intake and clinical signs.
Key
words: Japanese quails, cottonseed meal, ferrous
sulphate, pathological effects.