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Performance and Histological Responses of Internal Organs
of Broiler Chickens Fed Raw, Dehulled, and Aqueous
and Dry-Heated Kidney Bean Meals
I. A. Emiola,*
1,2
A. D. Ologhobo,† and R. M. Gous‡
*Department of Animal Production and Health, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, PMB 4000, Ogbomoso, Nigeria;
†Department of Animal Science, University of Ibadan, Nigeria; and ‡Discipline of Animal and Poultry Science,
University of KwaZulu-Natal, 3200 Scottsville, Pietermartzburg, South Africa
ABSTRACT The objective of the present study was to
investigate the effect of raw and differently processed
[aqueous heating, dehulled, and dry heating (toasted)]
kidney bean meals on the performance, weights, and his-
tology of internal organs of broiler chicken. The feeding
trial lasted for 56 d. Two hundred twenty-five 1-d-old
broiler chicks (Anak strain) were used for the study. There
were 5 treatment groups of 3 replicates with 15 birds per
replicate. Raw and processed kidney bean meals were
used to replace 50% protein supplied by soybean in the
control diet. Data collected were used to evaluate feed
intake, weight gain, and efficiency of feed utilization. The
weights of liver, pancreas, kidney, heart, and lungs were
also recorded and tissue samples of each collected for
histological examination. Average daily food intake, aver-
age daily gain, and efficiency of feed utilization were
influenced by the dietary treatments. Average daily food
intake and average daily gain in birds fed the control diet
Key words: kidney bean seed, processing, performance, organ weight, histology
2007 Poultry Science 86:1234–1240
INTRODUCTION
Kidney bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) is considered as a po-
tential component of diets of pigs and poultry. Kidney
bean contains high amounts of protein and energy, and
amino acids content is similar to that of soybean except
for a lower level of methionine (Laurena et al., 1991). The
inclusion of a high amount of raw kidney bean (Phaseolus
vulgaris) in diets has been reported to have a detrimental
effect on the performance of chickens (Jaffe, 1980; Liener,
1989) and rats (Apata, 1990). This was attributed to the
presence in the seeds of various biologically active com-
©2007 Poultry Science Association Inc.
Received October 2, 2006.
Accepted February 20, 2007.
1
Corresponding author: emiola@cc.umanitoba.ca or walemiola@
yahoo.com
2
Present address: Department of Animal Science, University of Mani-
toba, Winnipeg, R3T 2N2, Manitoba, Canada.
1234
and heat-treated kidney bean meals were similar and
significantly (P<0.05) higher than those fed raw or de-
hulled meals. Feed conversion ratio was significantly (P<
0.05) higher in birds fed raw or dehulled meals compared
with those fed the control diet. The relative weight of the
pancreas was significantly (P<0.05) increased as a result
of acinar hypertrophy. The kidney had severe congestion
of glomeruli and distention of the capillary vessels with
numerous thrombi in birds fed raw and dehulled kidney
bean meals. The weight of the liver was significantly (P
<0.05) reduced in birds fed raw and dehulled meals,
and the liver was characterized by marked coagulative
necrosis and degeneration of the hepatocytes. The struc-
tural alterations were attributed to intake of trypsin inhib-
itors and haemagglutinins in the processed seeds. In con-
clusion, aqueous heated kidney bean meal can be used to
replace 50% protein supplied by soybean meal in broiler
starter and finisher diets without any adverse effect on
the performance and the internal organs.
pounds usually referred to as antinutritional factors/toxic
substances. According to Liener (1989), kidney beans con-
tain trypsin inhibitors, amylase inhibitors, haemaggluti-
nins, tannin, phytic acid, and oxalates. These antinutri-
tional factors negatively affect the nutritive value of the
bean through direct and indirect reactions: they inhibit
protein and carbohydrate digestibility; induce pathologi-
cal changes in intestine and liver tissue, thus affecting
metabolism; inhibit a number of enzymes; and bind nutri-
ents, making them unavailable (Bressani, 1993). Inclusion
of raw kidney beans in the diet of growing animals as
the only source of plant protein almost invariably leads
to a significant impairment in growth (Ologhobo et al.,
1993) and other undesirable physiological and biochemi-
cal alterations (Aletor and Aladetimi, 1989). Ologhobo
(1981) reported alterations in the quantitative composi-
tion of the plasma, liver, and urine of rats poisoned with
seed haemagglutinins, which led to the conclusion that
the toxic action of haemagglutinins affects metabolic pro-
cesses in the liver.
BROILERS FED KIDNEY BEAN MEALS 1235
An experiment with chicks has shown that haemagglut-
inins in legumes exert their deleterious antinutritional
effects via reduced nutrient absorption following exten-
sive structural and functional disruption of the intestinal
microvilli (Grant, 1991). Liener and Kakade (1980) also
reported that the presence of protease inhibitors in the
raw legumes is in part responsible for the depression in
the nutritional value of proteins, inhibition of growth, and
stimulation of pancreatic hyperplasia and hypertrophy.
Similarly, Ortiz et al. (1994) found histological lesions in
the ileum and liver of chicks and rats fed diets high in
tannins extracted from faba bean (Vicia faba) suggesting
a loss of digestive capacity. Degeneration of the hepato-
cytes was observed in the liver. Ortiz et al. attributed this
to the high tannin content of the diet, which was estimated
at 16 g of dried tannin per kg of diet, well above practical
feeding or dietary levels.
These effects limit the use of raw kidney bean although
various processing techniques tend to reduce the antinu-
tritional factor content of the seed. Several studies indicate
that heat processing [e.g., aqueous and dry heating (toast-
ing)] increases the digestible nutrients available to young
nonruminant animals, especially young chicks, resulting
in improved growth. The hulls of legumes consist of
poorly digestible glumes that completely enclose the seed.
Removal of this hull should therefore increase the concen-
tration of digestible nutrient level for broilers comparable
with that of soybean. However, many authors reported
suboptimal performance when broilers are fed processed
mucuna bean meals (Emenalom and Udedibie, 1998; Emi-
ola et al., 2003). This was attributed to varying concentra-
tions of residual trypsin inhibitor and haemagglutinins
in the meals. Emphasis has been placed on the various
ways of inactivating the antinutritional factors in the le-
gume seed and the improvement of the nutritive value.
However, little attention has been given to the evaluation
of the effects of intake of residual antinutritional factors in
processed legume seeds on performance characteristics,
weights, and histology of internal organs of broiler chick-
ens. This study was therefore designed to address this
issue.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Samples
Mature dry seeds of raw kidney bean were obtained
from Fasola Farm Center, Oyo State, Nigeria. The kidney
bean was subjected to one of the following processing
methods:
Aqueous Heating. Dry legume seeds were poured into
boiling water (100°C) in a cooking pot and heated for 1
h. Cooked beans were air dried for 4 d after which they
were oven dried at 85°C for 48 h.
Dehulling. The dry seeds were soaked in cold water
for between 18 to 24 h, and the outer seed coats were
removed by hand. The seeds were sun dried for 4 d after
which they were oven dried at 85°C for 48 h.
Dry Heating (Toasting). This involved spreading the
seeds thinly in a pan placed in an oven (120°C). It was
stirred from time to time to maintain uniform heating.
Dry heating was considered adequate when the beans
changed from whitish to light brown and became crispy
to touch. The process lasted between 25 to 30 min.
The raw and processed seeds were ground using a 2-
mm screen and stored separately in a sealed Kilner jar
until required for chemical analysis and incorporation
into diets.
Chemical Analysis
Diets and raw and processed kidney bean meals were
milled to pass through 1-mm screen prior to chemical
analyses. Samples were analyzed for DM, GE, and CP.
Raw and processed kidney beans were subjected to proxi-
mate analysis using the methods of AOAC (1990). Con-
centration of haemagglutinins was determined using the
haemagglutination assay as described by Valdebouze et
al. (1980). For measurement of trypsin inhibitor activity,
kidney bean seeds were ground with a mortar and pestle,
and 100 mg of the powder produced was further homoge-
nized in 10 mL of 0.001 MHCl with an all-glass Potter
Elvelijam tissue grinder. Further extraction and trypsin
inhibitor activity analyses were carried out as described
by Van Oort et al. (1989). Tannins content were deter-
mined by the methods described by Hoff and Singleton
(1977). Phytate content in the raw and processed kidney
bean samples was determined using the methods of Haug
and Lantzsch (1983). Briefly, 10 mL of 0.2 NHCl was
added to 100 mg of raw and processed kidney bean seed,
and the mixture was shaken for 3 h at room temperature
and then filtered. Distilled water (0.5 mL) and 2 mL of
ferric solution were then added to 0.5 mL of filtrate. The
mixture was boiled for 30 min, centrifuged at 2,400 ×g,
after which 1.5 mL of bipyridine solution was added to
1 mL of the supernatant. The absorbance of the mixture
was read against distilled water at 519 nm with a Phar-
macia Ultrospec 2000 spectrophotometer (Perkin-Elmer,
Amersham Pharmacia Biotech, Piscataway, NJ). Oxalate
was assayed by a gravimetric method described by Apata
and Ologhobo (1989). All analyses were done in duplicate
(Table 1).
Experimental Diets
Isocaloric and isonitrogenous diets were formulated by
incorporating raw and differently processed kidney bean
meals into broiler starter and finisher diets. A corn-soy-
bean meal diet served as control; raw and treated kidney
bean meal was used to replace 50% of the protein supplied
by soybean in the experimental diets. All diets were sup-
plemented with methionine and lysine to meet NRC
(1994) requirements. The experimental diets and their
proximate composition are presented in Tables 2 and 3.
Experimental Birds
Two hundred twenty-five unsexed 1-d-old broiler
chicks of the Anak strain weighing 40.00 ±0.05 g/bird
EMIOLA ET AL.1236
Table 1. Chemical composition and antinutritional factors in raw and differently processed kidney bean seeds
(% dry matter)
Aqueous Dry
Item Raw heating Dehulled heating
Crude protein 26.8 24.7 28.0 25.6
Crude fiber 5.3 5.0 3.2 5.3
Ether extract 1.1 0.9 1.0 1.0
Ash 5.3 4.8 5.0 5.1
N-free extract 61.5 64.6 62.8 62.9
Trypsin inhibitors (Tiu/mg of protein)
1
81.70 ND
2
77.80 10.5
Haemagglutinin activity (Hu/mg of protein)
3
39.00 ND 34.65 12.5
Tannins (g/100 g) 0.57 0.37 0.11 0.39
Phytate (g/100 g) 0.96 0.86 0.89 0.92
Oxalate (g/100 g) 0.50 0.23 0.41 0.47
1
Tiu/mg of protein = trypsin inhibitor units/mg of protein.
2
ND = not detected.
3
Hu/mg of protein = haemagglutinin units/mg of protein.
were used for this study. The chicks were randomly di-
vided into 5 groups of 45 birds, and each group was
assigned to 1 of the 5 dietary treatments (raw, aqueous
heating, dehulled, and toasted kidney bean meals) in a
completely randomized design. A corn-soybean diet
served as control. Each group was further subdivided
into 3 replicates of 15 birds and each replicate kept on
litter in pens measuring 2.4 m ×2.6 m. Starter diet was
fed from 1 to 4 wk, whereas the finisher diet was fed
from 5 to 8 wk. Feed and water were provided ad libitum,
and uniform light was provided continuously.
Measurements
Feed intake was recorded daily, and BW was recorded
weekly. Feed consumption, weight gain, and efficiency
of feed utilization were used as measures of chick perfor-
mance. The study lasted for 56 d. On d 56, 2 birds per
replicate (6 birds/treatment) were randomly selected,
fasted for about 18 h to empty their gastrointestinal tract,
weighed individually, slaughtered, and eviscerated. The
Table 2. Dietary ingredients and chemical composition (%) of broiler starter diets
Aqueous Dry
Ingredient Control Raw heating Dehulled heating
Corn 54.50 46.00 45.00 48.00 46.40
Kidney bean — 24.50 25.50 22.50 24.60
Soybean meal 30.00 15.00 15.00 15.00 15.00
Wheat 4.50 3.00 2.50 2.50 2.00
Fish meal 6.50 7.00 7.50 7.50 7.50
Fixed ingredients
1
4.50 4.50 4.50 4.50 4.50
Proximate composition (%) based on analyzed values
Dry matter 94.68 92.68 91.47 93.12 93.78
Crude protein 23.23 22.98 23.04 23.14 23.11
Crude fiber 5.83 5.94 5.88 4.92 5.11
Ether extract 8.24 5.14 4.92 4.63 5.24
Ash 9.54 10.24 10.56 8.68 9.22
N-free extract 53.16 55.70 55.60 58.63 57.32
DE (MJ/kg) 13.02 13.14 12.96 13.22 13.06
1
Fixed ingredients include bone meal, 2.50; oyster shell, 0.50; vitamin premix, 0.50; methionine, 0.30; lysine,
0.20; salt, 0.50 premix supplied, per kilogram of diet: vitamin A, 12,000 IU; vitamin D
3
, 2,000 IU; vitamin E, 50
IU; vitamin B
1
, 1 mg; vitamin B
2
, 3 mg; vitamin B
6
, 1 mg; vitamin B
12
,10g; vitamin K, 2 mg; copper (cupric
sulphate), 75 mg; nicotinic acid, 12 mg; pantothenic acid, 10 mg; iron, 200 mg; cobalt, 0.5 mg; manganese, 40
mg; zinc, 90 mg, iodine, 1 mg; selenium, 0.2 mg; calcium, 31.25 g; sodium, 10 g.
weight of the liver, pancreas, kidney, heart, and lungs
was recorded. For histological analysis, tissue samples of
each organ were taken, immersed in formalin (1%), fixed
in Bouin’s solution for 24 h, and embedded in paraffin
wax. Sections from each organ were made at a thickness
of 5 m with a microtome, stained with hematoxylin-
eosin, and examined by light microscope.
Data Analysis
Data collected were analyzed as a completely random-
ized design using the GLM procedures of SAS (SAS Inst.
Inc., Cary, NC). When a significant F-value for treatment
means (P<0.05) was observed in the ANOVA, treatment
means were compared using Duncan’s multiple range
test (Duncan, 1955).
RESULTS
Aqueous heating and toasting reduced the crude pro-
tein content of kidney beans, whereas dehulling enhanced
BROILERS FED KIDNEY BEAN MEALS 1237
Table 3. Dietary ingredients and chemical composition of (%) of broiler finishing diets
Aqueous Dry
Ingredient Control Raw heating Dehulled heating
Corn 54.00 49.60 49.75 52.25 50.50
Kidney bean — 20.40 21.25 18.75 20.50
Soybean meal 25.00 12.50 12.50 12.50 12.50
Wheat offal 15.00 11.50 10.50 10.50 10.50
Fish meal 2.00 2.00 2.00 2.00 2.00
Fixed ingredients
1
4.00 4.00 4.00 4.00 4.00
Proximate composition (%) based on analyzed values
Dry matter 91.52 92.14 90.60 90.15 91.38
Crude protein 20.56 20.14 20.60 20.55 20.38
Crude fiber 8.25 6.45 6.25 5.82 6.12
Ether extract 6.34 4.63 4.21 4.98 5.06
Ash 7.28 8.65 8.84 8.56 9.02
N-free extract 57.57 60.13 60.10 61.00 59.42
DE (KJ/kg) 12.80 12.60 12.62 12.78 12.40
1
Fixed ingredients include bone meal, 2.50; oyster shell, 0.50; vitamin premix, 0.50; methionine, 0.30; lysine,
0.20; salt, 0.50 premix supplied, per kilogram of diet: vitamin A, 12,000 IU; vitamin D
3
, 2,000 IU; vitamin E, 50
IU; vitamin B
1
, 1 mg; vitamin B
2
, 3 mg; vitamin B
6
, 1 mg; vitamin B
12
,10g; vitamin K, 2 mg; copper (cupric
sulphate), 75 mg; nicotinic acid, 12 mg; pantothenic acid, 10 mg; iron, 200 mg; cobalt, 0.5 mg; manganese, 40
mg; zinc, 90 mg, iodine, 1 mg; selenium, 0.2 mg; calcium, 31.25 g; salt, 25 g; sodium, 10 g.
it (Table 1). Raw kidney bean contained 81.70 trypsin
inhibitor units/mg of protein and 39.00 haemagglutinin
units/mg of protein (Table 1). Dehulling marginally re-
duced the contents of trypsin inhibitors and haemaggluti-
nin in kidney bean and caused substantial reduction in
tannin content. Aqueous heating inactivates trypsin in-
hibitors and haemagglutinin, whereas toasting left resid-
ual amounts of these antinutritional factors. Heat treat-
ment was less effective in the detoxification of tannin,
phytate, and oxalate.
The performance of the chicks was significantly af-
fected by the dietary treatments (P<0.05). Average daily
gain (ADG; see Table 4) was significantly (P<0.05) re-
duced in birds fed diets containing raw or dehulled kid-
ney bean compared with those fed aqueous and dry
heated kidney bean meal diet. The ADG in broilers fed
the control diet and aqueous and dry heat-treated kidney
bean meal were similar. Average daily feed intake (ADFI)
was influenced (P<0.05) by the processing methods (Ta-
ble 4). Heat treatment resulted in an improvement in feed
intake, whereas ADFI (P<0.05) was depressed in birds
fed diets containing raw or dehulled kidney bean meal.
Feed conversion ratio was higher (P<0.05) in groups fed
raw and processed kidney bean meals than the control
diet.
Table 4. Performance of broiler chickens fed processed kidney bean meals (g/bird per d)
1
Initial Final Total ADG
Item ADFI weight weight weight gain g/b/d FCR
Control 69.8
a
40.0 2,212.3 2,172.3 38.8
a
1.80
d
Raw 52.6
b
40.5 1,142.2 1,101.7 19.7
b
2.67
a
Aqueous heating 72.3
a
40.5 2,151.4 2,111.4 37.7
a
1.92
c
Dehulled 48.3
b
40.0 1,223.5 1,183.0 21.1
b
2.29
b
Dry heating 71.7
a
40.3 2,106.2 2,065.9 36.9
a
1.94
c
Mean 62.94 40.25 1,767.12 1,726.8 30.8 2.12
SEM 4.95 0.11 229.83 230.0 4.12 0.17
a–d
Means with different superscript, on the same column are significantly different (P<0.05).
1
ADFI = average daily feed intake; ADG = average daily gain; FCR = feed conversion ratio.
The relative weights of the liver, pancreas, kidney, lung,
and heart as percentage carcass weight are shown in Table
5. Relative weight of the liver was significantly (P<0.05)
reduced in chicks fed raw and processed kidney bean
meals. Similarly, the relative weights of the pancreas and
kidney were significantly (P<0.05) increased in the same
group of birds except those fed aqueous-heated kidney
bean meal. Weights of the lungs and heart were not influ-
enced by the dietary treatments.
Histological studies revealed some structural changes
in the pancreas, kidney, and liver sections examined from
the chicks fed raw and processed kidney bean meals.
There was hypertrophy and hyperplasia of the pancreas
of broiler fed raw and dehulled kidney bean meals. The
kidney had severe congestion of glomeruli and distention
of the capillary vessels with numerous thrombi in birds
fed raw and dehulled kidney bean meals, whereas it was
less marked in those fed toasted meal. The structural
changes in the lungs manifest by congestion of alveolar
walls and edema were present but less marked in the
raw and dehulled kidney meal-fed chicks. Histology of
the liver showed an extensive coagulative necrosis, con-
gestion of sinusoid and extensive degeneration of the
hepatocytes, these were less marked in toasted-bean-fed
broilers. The microscopic lesions observed in these organs
EMIOLA ET AL.1238
Table 5. Relative weights of organ of broiler chickens fed processed legume meals (% live weight)
Item Liver Pancreas Kidney Lung Heart
Control 3.24
a
0.36
d
0.63
c
0.05 0.43
Raw 2.55
e
0.46
a
0.70
a
0.07 0.42
Aqueous heating 3.14
b
0.36
d
0.63
c
0.05 0.41
Dehulled 2.70
d
0.44
b
0.67
b
0.08 0.42
Dry heating 2.95
c
0.40
c
0.65
bc
0.06 0.40
Mean 2.92 0.40 0.66 0.06 0.42
SEM 0.125 0.020 0.013 0.006 0.005
a–d
Means with a different superscript in the same column are significantly different (P<0.05).
correspond to the increase in trypsin inhibitors and
haemagglutinins intake in a linear manner.
DISCUSSION
The result of proximate composition revealed that kid-
ney bean is a good source of protein. Aqueous and dry
heating (toasting) tended to reduce the CP content possi-
bly due to leaching and vaporization of some nitrogenous
compound during processing. The crude fiber content of
the bean is low, which makes it ideal for poultry. Dehul-
ling marginally reduced the contents of trypsin inhibitor
and haemagglutinins in kidney bean and caused substan-
tial reduction in tannin. This is in agreement with the
findings of Marquardt et al. (1978). Aqueous heating inac-
tivates trypsin inhibitor and haemagglutinins, whereas
toasting left residual amounts of these antinutritional fac-
tors. Heat treatments were less effective in the detoxifica-
tion of tannin, phytate, and oxalate. Toasting appeared
to be partially effective in inactivating the haemaggluti-
nins and trypsin inhibitors in the seeds. This result reaf-
firms the earlier observations of Babar et al. (1988).
The ADFI was significantly (P<0.05) affected by the
dietary treatments (see Table 4). The ADFI was depressed
in birds fed raw and dehulled kidney bean meal. This
finding is in agreement with the report of other authors
(Udedibie and Carlini, 2000; Ologhobo et al., 2003). These
authors reported a significant reduction in feed intake
when broilers were fed diets containing raw or improp-
erly processed legume seed meals. In contrast, Liener
(1989) reported a nonsignificant differences in ADFI when
raw kidney been meal was fed to broiler chickens. The
present study was conducted over a period of 56 d com-
pared with a 21-d feeding trial reported by the author.
The duration of the experiment could be responsible for
the observed differences.
In the present study, the replacement of soybean meal
in the control diet with raw and dehulled kidney bean
meals caused a significantly poorer growth of chicks as a
result of the structural alterations in the pancreas, kidney,
and liver. The most significant effect was the enlargement
of the pancreas caused by the hypertrophy and hyperpla-
sia of the cells. There is evidence that the ingestion of
trypsin inhibitors from legumes result in the hypertrophy
and hyperplasia of the pancreas (Liener, 1989; Ologhobo
et al., 2003), an indication of dysfunction of the pancreas.
Liener and Kakade (1980) reported that the presence of
protease inhibitors in legumes are in part responsible
for the depression in the nutritive values of proteins,
inhibition of growth, and stimulation of pancreatic hyper-
trophy and hyperplasia. Trypsin inhibitors have been im-
plicated in growth depression in broiler chicks (Liener
and Hasdai, 1986).
Significant (P<0.05) differences in ADG and efficiency
of feed utilization were observed. The depressed ADG in
birds fed raw and dehulled kidney bean diets could be
attributed to higher intake of trypsin inhibitors in these
diets. Our observations on the hypertrophy and hyperpla-
sia of the pancreas in chicks consuming diets rich in tryp-
sin inhibitors offer histological support to this finding.
According to Lyman and Lepkovsky (1957), the growth
depression caused by trypsin inhibitors might be the con-
sequence of an endogenous loss of essential amino acids
being secreted by a hyperactive pancreas. This could be
a result of a combination of endogenous losses of essential
amino acids, especially threonine, which are important
components of trypsin and decreased proteolysis of di-
etary proteins. The pancreatic hypertrophy and hyperpla-
sia according to Lyman and Lepkovsky (1957) divert the
amino acids from the synthesis of body protein to the
synthesis of these enzymes. This loss in sulphur-con-
taining amino acids exacerbates an already critical situa-
tion with respect to legume seeds, which are inherently
deficient in these amino acids. Similarly, haemagglutinins
are known to exert deleterious effects via structural and
functional disruptions of the intestinal microvilli re-
sulting in reduced nutrient absorption. The improvement
in growth recorded in the groups fed aqueous-heated
and toasted kidney bean meals could be attributed to
the inactivation or reduction in trypsin inhibitors and
haemagglutinins in the meals. Previously Ortiz et al.
(1994) found histological lesions in the ileum and liver
suggesting a loss of digestive capacity when chicks and
rats were fed dried tannin extract from faba bean (Vicia
faba). In the liver, degeneration of the hepatocytes was
observed. They attributed this to the high tannin content
of the diet, which was estimated at 16 g of dried tannin
per kg of diet.
Efficiency of feed utilization was significantly influ-
enced (P<0.05) by the dietary treatments. This is consis-
tent with the observation of Zarkadas and Wiseman
(2005) who reported a reduction in the efficiency of feed
utilization when diets containing trypsin inhibitor was
fed to monogastric animals. The improvement in effi-
BROILERS FED KIDNEY BEAN MEALS 1239
Table 6. Histological response of organs of broiler chickens fed raw and processed kidney bean meals
Aqueous Dry
Organs Control Raw heating Dehulled heating
Liver
Congestion of sinusoids — ** — ** *
Coagulative necrosis — ** — ** *
Degeneration of hepatocytes — ** — ** D
Kidney
Congestion of glomeruli — ** — ** *
Distention of capillary vessels with numerous thrombi D ** — * *
Hyperemia — — — — —
Pancreas
Acinar hypertrophy — ** — ** *
Lungs
Congestion of alveolar walls — * — * —
Edema — * — * —
Thickening of alveolar septa — D — — —
Heart
Congestion — — — — —
*Present but less marked than usual; **present and distinct; D = doubtful/minimal;—=nolesion.
ciency of feed utilization by broilers fed aqueous heated
and toasted kidney bean meal diets is consistent with
the finding of Bressani and Sosa (1990). The presence
of residual trypsin inhibitor and haemagglutinins in the
toasted meal could account for the observed differences
in the efficiency of feed utilization of birds fed toasted
and aqueous heated meals.
The toxic effects of antinutritional factors in raw and
processed kidney bean caused significant (P<0.05) reduc-
tions in the relative weights of the liver in birds fed raw
and dehulled kidney bean meals. Alteration in the quanti-
tative compositions of liver of rats acutely poisoned with
seed haemagglutinins were reported by King et al. (1980).
Aletor and Fetuga (1988) also reported focal necrosis and
fatty acid changes in livers of rats fed raw lima bean.
Weights of the pancreas and kidney were affected by the
dietary treatments (P<0.05; Table 5). These observations
corroborate previous findings of Roebuck (1986). The raw
and dehulled kidney bean meals caused an increased
pancreatic weight; this implicates trypsin inhibitors as the
key factors responsible for these physiological changes.
Liddle et al. (1984) and Liener (1989) reported that inacti-
vation of trypsin elicits continuous release of cholecysto-
kinin, which stimulates pancreatic production of diges-
tive enzymes including trypsin and chymotrypsin, which
leads to an enlarged pancreas as a result of hypertrophy
and hyperplasia.
The changes in the internal structure of organs and the
associated intracellular components due to feeding raw
and processed kidney bean indicates alterations in the
metabolic and secretory functions of those organs (Table
6). The multifocal aggregations of lymphoid cells of liver,
lymphatic infiltrations of the renal interstinum of kidney,
and pancreatic necrosis are consistent with the pathologi-
cal manifestations reported by Aletor and Fetuga (1988)
and Ologhobo et al. (1993). The changes in the pancreatic
acinar of birds fed raw and dehulled bean meals are in
keeping with previous reports by Meyer et al. (1992), who
observed decreased pancreatic enzyme activities in pigs
fed diets containing kidney beans. The authors suggested
that such effects are the consequences of poor protein
digestibility and interference with systemic protein utili-
zation, resulting in insufficient amino acids for protein
synthesis. Similar alterations in the duodenum and pan-
creas have been reported in other studies with broilers
fed different levels of faba bean and peas (Rubio et al.,
1990; Yuste, 1993). The degeneration of the hepatocytes
and coagulative necrosis in the liver and congestion of
the glomerulus in the kidney were observed in birds fed
raw and dehulled kidney bean meals and were less
marked in birds fed toasted meal, whereas no changes
were noticed in birds fed the aqueous heated meal. The
absence of histological lesions in these birds could be
attributed to the low concentrations of residual antinutri-
tional factors in the toasted and aqueous heated kidney
bean meal.
Conclusion
The results showed that although there are some lesions
associated with trypsin inhibitor and haemagglutinins in
the diets, they are not conclusive in determining the ef-
fects of these antinutritional factors on the organs and
loss of performance parameters. Chicks fed heat-treated
kidney bean perform similarly to the control diet. This
indicates that heat-treated kidney beans can be used to
replace 50% of the protein supplied by the soybean in
the control diet. Feed conversion ratio was superior in
birds fed the control diet compared with those fed pro-
cessed kidney bean meal diets. Although performance of
chicks fed toasted meal and aqueous-heated kidney bean
meals were similar, caution must be taken when a long
term feeding trial is envisaged with toasted kidney bean
meal. All organs investigated in this study show distor-
tions in the histological structures that are related to the
residual antinutritional factors in the meal.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
This project was funded by Nigerian Raw Material De-
velopment Council and Hope Agricultural Enterprises
Limited, Ibadan, Nigeria.
EMIOLA ET AL.1240
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