Abstract
In a long-term study, 21 Barbari male kids were divided into five groups and fed Leucaena feucocephala fodder to supply 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100% of their crude protein (CP) requirements. At varying periods some animals developed enlargement of the facial bone and exophthalmos. First appearance of these signs was recorded in an animal supplied 75% of its CP requirements through leucaena, after 264 days on the diet. Subsequently, other animals displayed these signs after 480 and 570 days on 100% CP from leucaena (two animals), and 660 days on 25 and 50% CP from leucaena (one animal each) in the ration. In all, five animals exhibited signs similar to those of mandibular osteodystrophy fibrosa. The incidence of the disorder was significant (P<0.05). A Ca and P balance study performed after 336 days of leucaena feeding revealed that two animals on 100% and one animal on 25% CP from leucaena in the ration were not able to store P in the body. Histological examination of the tissues, take post-mortem, revealed changes in thyroid, parathyroid, kidney, adrenal and pituitary glands of the affected animals
