The nutritional value of khesari (Lathyrus sativus), a grain legume, was determined for growing and laying pullets. Chemical analyses indicated khesari to be high in crude protein (,2-g/kg) and low in fat (+,.* g/kg) with estimated true metabolizable energy concentration of +,.* MJ/kg. Four hundred Shaver /13 brown pullets belonging to same source were randomly assigned to. dietary treatments with +** pullets each. Least-cost isocaloric and isonitrogenous diet containing raw khesari at *, +**, +/* or ,** g/kg were formulated and fed to grower and pullet developer birds separately during +,ῌ+2 weeks and +3ῌ,, weeks respectively. This was followed by feeding layer diets during ,-ῌ-. weeks of age. The performance of grower chicks during +,ῌ+2 wks of age showed no significant e#ect on body weight gain and FCR but feed intake increased linearly (Pῌ *.*/) and di#ered significantly when the dietary level of raw khesari was ,** g/kg. On the other hand, during +3ῌ,, weeks, the birds showed increased body weight gain and feed intake and improved FCR (Pῌ*.*+) when they consumed the highest level of khesari (,** g/kg). Layer performance in terms of egg production, egg mass and FCR were declined as the dietary levels of khesari was increased showing a clear-cut linear e#ect. It was concluded from the study that khesari supported growth performance in pullets either similar to or better than the control birds at the levels tested and that it is well tolerable for layers up to +/* g/kg dietary level without experiencing any remarkable deleterious e#ects. Khesari did not show any symptoms typical to lathyrism in both grower and layer birds at the levels tested.
C onsiderable reports have appeared recently stating that human consumption of meat and eggs based on indis-criminate feeding of sub-therapeutic levels of antibiotics to poultry builds up microbial resistance and poses a high risk of liver and kidney damage (
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