The lupine seeds used in the present study did not contain any detectable common mycotoxins. The total alkaloid content of lupine seeds used in the present study was less than 0.01%. Broilers fed lupine-based diets showed markedly decreased food intake and growth rate and a higher feed:gain ratio (Table 3). These effects of dietary lupine were the main signs observed in all birds during the first week and persisted throughout the trial. Dehulling or autoclaving did not have any impact on feed consumption or body weight gain. Acute signs of lupine toxicity were observed with four chickens fed the diet containing raw lupine seed during the first week of exposure. Two birds died and two were euthanized in extremis. The initial clinical signs included feed refusal, leg weakness,lack of coordination, muscleparalysis, and torticollis.The affected birds tended to sit with their heads retracted backward (Figure 1). Initially, they appeared alert, hypersensitive to external stimuli, and were very vocal, but this condition was followed by progressive weakness and coma. The affected birds had a significantly (P < 0.01) lower heart rate [mean 186 beats per minute (bpm)] in comparison to apparently normal birds from the same group (mean 384 bpm) or those fed an SBM based diet (mean 409 bpm). At the termination of the experiment (21 d of age), there were no significant differences in the heart rate between control birds and those fed lupine-based diets (mean 350 bpm). Slow heart rate (bradycardia) was apparent only in chickens showing acute signs of toxicity, and no other forms of cardiac arrhythmias were observed in birds fed lupine-based diets. During the second week of exposure, three broilers from the group fed the raw lupine based diet started to show signs of wing paralysis manifested as “drooping” wings (Figure 2). Initially, the signs were mild and were apparent only upon prolonged careful observation, but by the end of the experiment, two of the three affected chickens were unable to hold their wings in the normal upright position for longer than only a few seconds. A total of seven chickens from the lupine treatment groups developed skeletal deformities. In particular, all affected birds showed striking similarities in limb deformities as presented in Figure 3. There was no swelling of the joints in the affected limbs, and there was no evidence of arthritis upon postmortem examination. Other skeletal deformities detected in these chicks at necropsy included crooked sternum and mild scoliosis in the thoracic vertebrae region. There was no difference in bone ash content between affected birds (54.2 %) and control birds (54.5%). No skeletal deformities were observed in control birds. Postmortem examination did not show any gross pathological changes as sociated with the treatment.Liver microsomal cytochrome P-450 content was higher (P < 0.05) in lupine-fed birds in comparison to controls (Table 3).