EFFECT OF DIETARY VICINE ON THE PRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE OF LAYING CHICKENS

Abstract

Experiments were conducted to study the effects of dietary vicine [2,6-diamino-4,5-dihydroxy pyrimidine-5 (β-D-glucopyranoside)] on feed consumption, egg and yolk weight, egg production, egg fertility and hatchability, in vitro hemolysis of red blood cells, plasma lipid levels, and the peroxide, glutathione and vitamin E levels in plasma and/or liver. Vicine, when fed to laying hens, reduced the number of developing ova, egg and yolk weights and the fertility and hatchability of eggs. Yolks from vicine-fed birds had a lower ratio of yolk height:diameter and increased incidence of blood spots. Vicine consumption also elevated plasma lipid and lipid peroxide levels, increased erythrocyte hemolysis, and depressed the ratio of plasma vitamin E:lipid. In addition these birds had heavier livers with higher lipid peroxide and GSH levels. However, liver and plasma protein and liver lipid levels were not affected by dietary vicine. The effects of dietary vicine in these studies were not due to altered feed consumption of the birds. It is concluded that vicine, which was isolated from fababeans (Vicia faba L.), has a marked influence on the metabolism of the laying hen. Vicine may produce pro-oxidants that cause lipid peroxidation, erythrocyte hemolysis and interfere with normal lipid metabolism in the hen.