Harmful Natural Constituents Present in Livestock Feed Stuffs Anti-nutritional factor and their classification- Definition: Anti-nutritional factor may be defined as those substances in the diet which by themselves or their metabolic products arising in the system interfere with the feed utilization, reduced production or affects the health of the animals. Classification of Anti-Nutritive substances:- Toxic substances of natural origin can be classified based on their chemical properties and on the basis of their effect on utilization of nutrients (A. ) According to their Chemical Properties:- Group 1 Proteins 1. Protease inhibitor 2. Haemagglutinins(Lectins) Group п Glycosides 1. Saponins 2. Cyanogens 3.Glucosinolates(Goitrogens) or Thioglucosides Group ш Phenols 1. Gossypol 2. Tannins Group IV Miscellaneous 1. Anti-metals 2. Anti-vitamins ( B). Effect on Nutrient utilization (1.) Substances depressing digestion or metabolic utilization of proteins. (2). Substances reducing solubility or interfering with the utilization of minerals. (3). Substances increasing the requirements of certain vitamins. (4). Substances with a negative effect on the digestion of Carbohydrates a. Protease inhibitor (Trypsin and Chymotrypsin inhibitor) b.Haemagglutinins (Lectins) c. Saponins d.Polyphenolic compnents a. Phytic acid b. Oxalic acid c.Glucosinolates (Thioglucosides) d. Gossypol a. Anti- vitamin A,D,E,K. b. Anti-vitamin B1, B6, B12 and nicotinic acid a. Amylase inhibitor b. Phenolic compounds c. Flatulance factor Brief Description of Anti-nutritional or Toxic Factors:- Group-I. Proteins 1. Protease Inhibitors Substances that have the ability to inhibit the proteolytic activity of certain digestive enzymes. e. g. Legume seeds: Soybean, kidney bean, mung bean. Protease inhibitors are concentrated in the outer part of the cotyledon mass. Protease inhibitors are two types. a. Kunitz inhibitor (inhibits only trypsin) and b. Bowman - birk inhibitor (inhibits trypsin and chymotrypsin). The inhibitory substances are mostly heat labile and thus proper heat treatment inactivates the protease inhibitors Young Chicken fed raw soybean developed hypertrophy of pancreas The trypsin inhibitor activity of solvent extracted SBM was destroyed by exposure to steam for 60 minutes or by autoclaving under the following conditions. 5 psi for 45 min, 10 psi for 30 min and 15 psi for 20 min duration. 2. Haemagglutinins (Lectins):- Soyabean, Castor bean (ricin) and other legume seeds contain Haemagglutinins. These are found in both plant and animal tissue. These substances are able to combine with the glycoprotein components of red blood cells (RBC) causing agglutination of the cells. Ricin is extremely toxic.

1. Harmful Natural Constituents
Present in Livestock Feed Stuffs
Dr. Abhishek Sharma

2. Anti-nutritional factor and their
classification-
Definition:-
Anti-nutritional factor may be defined as those
substances in the diet which by themselves or
their metabolic products arising in the system
interfere with the feed utilization, reduced
production or affects the health of the animals.

3. Group 1 Proteins 1. Protease inhibitor
2. Haemagglutinins(Lectins)
Group II Glycosides 1. Saponins
2. Cyanogens
3.Glucosinolates(Goitrogens
) or Thioglucosides
Group ш Phenols 1. Gossypol
2. Tannins
Group IV Miscellaneous 1. Anti-metals
2. Anti-vitamins
Classification of Anti-Nutritive substances:-
•Toxic substances of natural origin can be classified based on their chemical properties and on the
basis of their effect on utilization of nutrients
(A. ) According to their Chemical Properties:-

4. (1.) Substances
depressing digestion or
metabolic utilization of
proteins.
(2). Substances
reducing
solubility or
interfering with
the utilization of
minerals.
(3). Substances
increasing the
requirements
of certain
vitamins.
(4). Substances
with a negative
effect on the
digestion of
Carbohydrates
a. Protease inhibitor
(Trypsin and
Chymotrypsin inhibitor)
b.Haemagglutinins
(Lectins)
c. Saponins
d.Polyphenolic
compnents
a. Phytic acid
b. Oxalic acid
c.Glucosinolates
(Thioglucosides)
d. Gossypol
a. Anti- vitamin
A,D,E,K.
b. Anti-vitamin
B1, B6, B12 and
nicotinic acid
a. Amylase
inhibitor
b. Phenolic
compounds
c. Flatulance factor
( B). Effect on Nutrient utilization

5. Brief Description of Anti-nutritional or Toxic Factors:-
Group-I. Proteins
1. Protease Inhibitors
• Substances that have the ability to inhibit the proteolytic activity of certain digestive
enzymes. e. g. Legume seeds: Soybean, kidney bean, mung bean.
• Protease inhibitors are concentrated in the outer part of the cotyledon mass.
• Protease inhibitors are two types. a. Kunitz inhibitor (inhibits only trypsin) and b.
Bowman - birk inhibitor (inhibits trypsin and chymotrypsin).
•The inhibitory substances are mostly heat labile and thus proper heat treatment
inactivates the protease inhibitors
•Young Chicken fed raw soybean developed hypertrophy of pancreas.
•The trypsin inhibitor activity of solvent extracted SBM was destroyed by exposure to
steam for 60 minutes or by autoclaving under the following conditions.
•5 psi for 45 min, 10 psi for 30 min and 15 psi for 20 min duration.

6. 2. Haemagglutinins (Lectins):-
• Soyabean, Castor bean (ricin) and other legume seeds contain
Haemagglutinins.
• These are found in both plant and animal tissue.
• These substances are able to combine with the glycoprotein
components of red blood cells (RBC) causing agglutination of the cells.
• Ricin is extremely toxic.
• It causes severe inflammatory changes in the intestines, kidney,
thyroid gland, etc.
• Lectins are resistant to digestion by pancreatic juice.
• It is resistant to destruction by dry heat.
• lectins are destroyed by the same conditions as those used to inactivate
protease inhibitors i.e. by steam.

7. Group –II Glycosides
1. Saponins:
• These are glycosides characterized by bitter taste, foaming in
aqueous solution and haemolyse RBC.
• Saponins are less important because their levels are low in most
common feed ingredients for monogastric animals.
• The important common forages which cause saponin poisoning of
livestock are lucerne, soyabean, etc.
• Poultry are more sensitive than pigs 0.4-0.5% .
• Saponin in the feed depress feed consumption in birds. Egg
production and body Weights are also depressed. Feeding lucerne
meal beyond 5-7°/o in poultry mash show decreased weight gain and egg
production.

8. Cont….
• The effect can partly be reversed by feeding of cholesterol
and cottonseed oil in the diet with which saponins get
binded.
• Excess feeding of green lucerne, etc. legume forages
saponins lower the surface tension of Ruminal contents
leading to accumulation of gas in the digesta. This condition is
known as bloat. This is also known as tympany/tympanitis.
• Turpentine and paraffin oil are helpful in reducing bloat .
• For ruminants 1 to 2 kg dry fodder should be fed before
letting the animals for legume pastures or before excessive
feeding of green legume fodders as a preventive measure.

9. 2. Cyanogens:-
• It occurs mainly in the form of cyanogenetic glycoside.
• In plants the glucoside is non-toxic in the intact tissues.
• These glucosides can be hydrolysed to prussic acid or hydrocyanic
acid (HCN) by the enzyme usually present in the same plant or as they
are being digested by animals
• The HCN is rapidly absorbed and some is eliminated through the lungs,
but the greater part is rapidly detoxified in the liver by conversion to
thiocyanate.
• Excess cyanide ion can quickly produce anoxia of the central nervous
system , inactivating the cytochrome oxidase system and death can
result within a few seconds.

10. Cont…..
Glycoside Plant source
1. Amygdalin Almonds
2. Dhurrin Jowar and other immature
grasses
3. Linamarin - Pulses, Linseed,
cassava
There are three distinct glycosides
•Ruminants are more susceptible to HCN poisoning than are horses
and pigs, because the enzyme required for the release of HCN is
destroyed in horses and pigs by the gastric HCI.
• Cattle are most susceptible than sheep.

11. Cont…..
• It usually causes reduced growth, poor feed efficiency and result in
death if consumed in increased amounts.
Clinical Symptoms:-
•Mental confusion, generalised muscle peresis and respiratory
distress, abdominal pain and vomiting.
• Feeding of immature jowar green fodder should be avoided to
prevent HCN poisoning.
• Animals which have not shown much evidence of toxicity may be
injected intravenously with 3 g sodium nitrate and 15 g sodium
thiosulphate in 200 ml H2O for cattle; for sheep 1 g sodium nitrate
and 2.5 g sodium thiosulphate in 50 ml H2O.

12. 3. Glucosinolates:-
• Most plants of crucifera family (cabbage, turnips, rapeseed and
mustard green) contain these substances.
• These Glucosinolates are responsible for the pungent flavours found in
plants belonging to the genus Brassica.
• Their main biological effect is to depress the synthesis of the thyroid
hormone, thus producing goitre.
• Growth depression and enlargement of liver and kidneys are also
observed in chicks and pigs.
• Ruminants appear to be less susceptible to the toxic effect of
Glucosinolates compared to pigs and poultry.

13. Group- III Phenols
1. Gossypol:-
•It is found in cotton seed.
•It is available in free form as a well bound form as a well bound form as gossypol-
protein complex.
•Whole cotton seed contains 1.09-1.53 percent of gossypol.
•Heat treatment of Cotton seed meal decreases the gossypol content.
•The physiological effects of free gossypol are reduced appetite, loss of body weight,
reduced haemoglobin content, cardiac irregularities, accumulation of fluid in body
cavities and depress liver function.
•It is more toxic to non-ruminants than ruminants because in rumen gossypol
combines with soluble protein this complex is resistant to enzymatic break down.
•Gossypol also combines with iron and lysine .So ferrous sulphate supplementation
reduces the toxic effect of gossypol.

14. 2. Tannin:-
•It is a high molecular wt. Polyphenolic substance widely
distributed in nature.
•It is of two type i.e.
(A). hydrolysable tannins which can be readily hydrolyzed
by water, acids, bases or enzymes and yield gallotannins and
ellagitannins.
(B). Condensed tannins are flavonoids – polymers of
flavonol.
•Sorghum, salseed meal, mustard oil cake and lucerne
meal contain sufficient amount of tannin.
•Tannins are astringent in nature.

15. Cont…..
•They bind with protein and reduces its availability to animal.
• They depress cellulase activity and thus digestion of crude fibre
reduces.
• Most of the tannins are present in seed coat.
• So decortication of seed will decrease the tannin content.
• Other physical methods like soaking and cooking reduce the tannin
content.
Addition of tannin complexing agents like polyethylene glycol (PEG)
and polyvinyl proldone (PVP) prevent formation of protein –tannin
complex as well as break the already formed complex thus
liberating protein.

16. Group-IV
1. Antimetals:- Substances depressing the utilization of minerals.
Phytic acid:
• Phytic acid is an ester formed by combination of the 6 alcholic group
of inositol with 6 molecules of hexaphosphoric acid. Hence its name
inositol hexaphosphoric acid.
• Seeds of cereals, dried legumes, oilseeds and nuts are rich in Phytic
acid.
• It depresses the utilization of several mineral elements such as
phosphorus, Calcium, magnesium, Iron and zinc etc. by forming the
insoluble compounds, which are excreted in the faeces.
• About 67% or more phosphorus in cereal grains is in the form of
phytin phosphorus.

17. Cont….
• Phytin phosphorus is less effectively utilized than
the inorganic form in poultry, horse and pig.
• Addition of the enzyme phytase to the ingredient of
vegetable origin can increase phosphorus digestibility
considerably.
• In case of Ruminants, phytase produced by rumen
microorganism makes phytin phosphorus available to
ruminants.

18. Oxalic acid:
• Oxalic acid is present as free and in salt form.
• It is a dicarboxylic acid (COOH)2.
• The greater part of oxalic acid in plants is present in the form of soluble
oxalates and only 10-20% appears as insoluble calcium and
magnesium oxalates especially within the cells.
• The leaves are richer than other part of plant.
• Mostly Pigs and poultry are affected.
• Growth is depressed and blood calcium is decreased.
• Cattle fed on paddy straw or other grasses (napier, bajra etc.)
containing 2% oxalate develop a negative calcium balance but sheep do
not develop at this level.
• Oxalate poisoning in cattle and sheep are characterized by rapid and
laboured respiration, depression, weakness, coma and death.

19. 2. Antivitamins:-
a. Antivitamin A-
•Raw soybean contains enzyme lipoxygenase which can be
destroyed by heating 5 min with steam at atmospheric
pressure.
• Lipoxygenase catalyses oxidation of carotene,
b. Antivitamin E:-
•Present in kidney bean.
•Diet with raw kidney beans produced muscular dystrophy in
chicks and lambs by reducing plasma vitamin E.
•Autoclaving destroys the factor.

20. c. Antivitamin K:-
• Eating sweet clover cause fatal haemorrhagic condition in
cattle. This is known as “ Sweet clover disease”
• Dicoumarol present in sweet clover is responsible for this.
• Dicoumarol reduce prothrombin levels in blood and
affects blood clotting.
d. Antivitamin D:
• Rachitogenic activity of isolated soya protein (unheated)
has been found with chicks and pigs.
• Autoclaving eliminates this Rachitogenic activity.

21. Anti- pyridoxine:-
• An antagonist of pyridoxine from linseed has been
identified as 1-amino-D-proline.
• It occur naturally in combination with glutamic
acid as a peptide and it is called linatine.
• Nutritive value of linseed meal for chicks can be
considerably improved after water treatment and
autoclaving.
f. Antiniacin:-
• An antagonist of niacin, niacytin is found in maize,
wheat bran, etc. which cause perosis and growth
depression.

22. Nitrate Poisoning:-
• Nitrate poisoning or ‘Oat hay poisoning’ in cattle is due to nitrates
present in some grasses.
• The nitrates are reduced to nitrites in the rumen.
• Nitrites oxidize the ferrous iron of haemoglobin to the ferric iron of
methaemoglobin which does not transport oxygen.
• In severe cases, the blood becomes almost chocolate brown and there is
a brownish discolouration of non-pigmented areas of the skin and
mucous membranes.
• The pulse is rapid and breathing is laboured.
• Death may result because of anoxia.
• Non-ruminants can tolerate nitrate but ruminants don’t because the
bacteria in the rumen convert nitrate to nitrite.

23. Sources of nitrate/nitrite:-
• Water contaminated with animal or industrial wastes,
feed containing high levels of nitrate.
• Cornstalks and oat hay were two of feeds first
reported to occasionally contain high level of nitrate.
• Hay or straw containing more than 2.2% potassium
nitrate is toxic.

24. Mimosine Toxicity:-
• Subabul green forage contains a toxic amino acid,
Mimosine at 2-5% in the leaves on DMB.
• When fresh leaves are masticated and mostly on rumen
microbial degradation, a goitrogen 3-hydroxy- 4(1H)–
pyridone (3,4DHP) is autocatalytically formed from the
Mimosine.
• The DHP is toxic and symptoms of toxicity include
alopecia, excessive salivation, enlarged thyroid glands, low
serum thyroxine (T4), low serum triiodothyronine (T3),
oesophageal lesions, poor appetite, weight loss and death.

25. • Abortions of pregnant animals, death of calves are also
reported.
• It is reported that ruminants in Hawaii and Indonesia
possess rumen bacteria which can rapidly degrade DHP
and thus not susceptible to leucaena toxicity.
• Mimosine toxicity is observed in ruminants if Subabul
constitutes more than about 30% of the total diet dry
matter.
• Subabul is toxic to poultry and other monogastric
animals.
• The maximum quantity of Subabul leaf acceptable to layers
was 2.5% and 5 % to broiler.

26. Treatment:-
• Drying at high temperature, ensiling and addition of
ferrous sulphate reduce the Mimosine content of
Subabul.
• Ferrous sulphate binds Mimosine, hinder in its
absorption and promotes its excretion through faeces,
this is more useful for monogastric species.