Liver proteolytic activity in growing male chickens fed a raw field bean (Vicia faba L.) diet.

As compared to well-nourished chickens, a significant reduction (p less than 0.05) in the rate of growth, along with a significant increase (p less than 0.05) in liver activities of both cathepsin A and D has been found in growing male chickens fed ad libitum over a period of 60 days on a diet containing raw field bean (Vicia faba L.) as the main source of protein. Moreover, addition of methionine (250 mg/100 g diet) to the legume diet had no significant effect in restoring either rate of growth or liver proteolytic activity. The possible nature of these findings are briefly discussed.