Alterations of some chemical constituents in blood and liver of jowar fed chicks.

The affect of feeding jowar (Sorghum vulgare) was investigated in day old chicks for the periods of 10 and 30 days. Similar chicks serving as controls were fed on Hindlever Poultry feed. The jowar fed chicks showed marked reduction in growth, poor development of comb and feathers, and symptoms of nicotinic acid deficiency. Biochemical investigations showed that plasma alpha-amino nitrogen was significantly reduced in jowar fed groups, indicating the deficiency of utilisable proteins in these chicks. The blood sugar levels in chicks fed on jowar for 10 and 30 days were significantly higher as compared to the respective controls. Liver glycogen in 10 days jowar fed chicks was significantly greater than in the control group. These observations have been explained to be due to reduced utilization of glucose through glycolysis.