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1.
P M Hocking 《British poultry science》1992,33(2):253-269
1. Turkey females were fed ad libitum or restricted from 6 weeks of age to achieve mean body weights of 0.6 of ad libitum fed birds on photostimulation at 18, 24 or 30 weeks of age. Body weight, food intake, egg production and hatchability were recorded to 54 weeks of age. 2. Restricted turkeys were fed ad libitum after first egg or 36 weeks of age. Food intake after 30 weeks of age averaged 170 g/bird/d and was similar for all treatments. At 54 weeks of age, restricted turkeys photostimulated at 24 and 30 weeks were not as heavy as turkeys photostimulated at 18 weeks and ad libitum fed turkeys. 3. A large proportion of restricted turkeys photostimulated at 18 weeks of age did not commence lay until 30 to 40 weeks and a significant number of restricted birds photostimulated at 24 weeks had short laying cycles. Restricted birds photostimulated at 30 weeks came into lay and showed similar persistency of lay to ad libitum fed turkeys. 4. Ad libitum fed turkeys laid 115.0, 122.0 and 101.0 and restricted turkeys 92.4, 99.5 and 103.4 eggs when photostimulated at 18, 24 and 30 weeks, respectively. The number of non-settable eggs was lower in restricted compared with ad libitum fed turkeys and declined with age at photostimulation. 5. Egg size at the end of the experiment was similar for ad libitum fed turkeys and restricted birds photostimulated at 18 weeks but was 2.3 g lower for restricted birds photostimulated at 24 and 30 weeks of age. 6. Hatchability was higher, and the proportion of second quality poults was lower with eggs from restricted turkeys. The mean numbers of poults hatched were 59.9, 75.1 and 66.0 for ad libitum fed and 71.7, 65.7 and 79.4 for restricted turkeys photostimulated at 18, 24 and 30 weeks of age. 相似文献
2.
1. This study compared the development of thermal resistance of the feather coat in broilers, with early or late feathering genes, and with or without the naked neck gene, allowed ad libitum or restricted feeding. 2. Male and female broilers of one of the 4 genotypes were reared to 6 weeks of age and allocated to one of the two feeding regimes. The thermal resistance of the back and crop region was measured at weekly intervals. A sample of birds were killed at the same ages and total feather weight, primary and secondary flight feather weight, liver weight and abdominal fat weight were measured. 3. All three main factors, sex, feeding and genotype, had significant effects on feather weight over time. The primary and secondary flight feathers were less affected by feed restriction than the feather coat as a whole. Birds with the naked neck gene showed a greater depression in growth rate than birds with a normal neck under conditions of restricted feeding. 4. The thermal resistance of the feathers on the back was greater in females, increased by early feather growth and decreased by restricted feeding. 5. Relative to metabolic body size, birds on restricted feeding had a greater feather weight and a smaller liver. There was a marked reduction in fat deposition, to almost negligible levels by 6 weeks of age. 6. Broilers given restricted feeding, in preparation for breeding, would benefit by a warmer environment, particularly those with feathering genotypes which confer a lower thermal resistance. 相似文献
3.
1. Two randomised block factorial experiments were conducted to investigate the relationships between the effects of dietary crude protein and specific amino acid concentrations on the relative growth of the body and feathers of young turkeys. 2. Decreasing dietary crude protein concentration from 300 to 180 g/kg in experiment 1 reduced the body and breast muscle weights of a large male line of turkeys proportionally by 0.44 and 0.52 compared with 0.19 and 0.24 in a small traditional line. 3. Decreasing dietary crude protein concentration was associated with a maximum reduction in feather weight of 0.18 and 0.24 respectively in male line and traditional turkeys. The length of the feathers in the cranial region of the breast decreased from 26 to 19mm in the traditional line compared with an increase from 14 to 25 mm in male line turkeys. 4. Decreasing dietary crude protein concentration was associated with an increase in the fat content of the feather-free carcase. Male line turkeys had a higher carcase fat and lower feather dry matter content than the traditional turkeys. 5. It was concluded that dietary crude protein was preferentially partitioned to feather rather than muscle growth in the male line in contrast to a traditional line of turkeys in which the growth of feathers and muscle were affected equally. 6. In experiment 2, the amino acids arginine, valine, methionine and tyrosine were added separately to a common basal ration (180g CP/kg) to raise their concentration to that of the control ration (260 g CP/kg). Each ration was fed ad libitum to male line turkeys from 2 to 6 weeks of age. 7. Amino acid supplementation increased body and breast muscle weights. 8. Compared with the basal ration, tyrosine was associated with a reduction in feather weight whereas valine had no effect. Supplementation with arginine and methionine resulted in increased feather weights that were similar to that of the controls. 9. It was concluded that arginine and methionine were used preferentially and are essential for feather growth. Excess amino acids that are not required for feather growth such as tyrosine and valine were used for increased body growth and resulted in relatively poor feather cover. 10. The results suggest that feather growth was maintained as much as possible at the expense of body growth when the amino acid concentration of the ration was less than that required to maximise body and muscle weight gain in large male line turkeys. 相似文献
4.
1. Female broiler breeders were fed ad libitum or a restricted quantity of food to achieve either a recommended body weight curve or a modified (linear) growth curve that allowed more generous feeding between 6 and 15 weeks of age. The birds were fed a ration containing either a normal or low concentration of crude protein. The welfare of the birds was assessed using a profile of indices of welfare at 6, 12, 18 and 24 weeks of age. 2. The low-protein ration decreased the body weight of birds fed ad libitum and restricted birds were fed substantially more of the low-protein ration to meet target body weights from 3 to 14 weeks of age. 3. The modified restricted rearing programme did not have an effect on indices of welfare. 4. Water intakes and plasma corticosterone concentrations were lower in restricted birds fed the low-protein ration and they spent more time resting, and less time spot-pecking, than birds fed the high-protein ration. 5. Birds fed ad libitum on both rations spent more time resting and less time foraging, drinking and spot-pecking than food restricted birds and were more fearful than restricted birds at 6, 12 and 18 weeks of age. 6. The heterophil:lymphocyte ratio in restricted birds was higher at 6 weeks and lower at 24 weeks compared with birds fed ad libitum. Humoral immunity was lower at 6 weeks of age in birds fed ad libitum and was similar at other ages. Cell-mediated immunity was similar among all treatments. 7. Plasma corticosterone concentrations were higher in restricted birds compared with birds fed ad libitum. Plasma creatine kinase activity was higher in birds fed ad libitum at 6, 12 and 18 weeks of age. Alkaline phosphatase and lactate dehydrogenase activity were higher whereas AST was lower in restricted birds compared with those fed ad libitum. 8. There was no evidence to support the use of low protein rations or linear growth curves to improve welfare in restricted broiler breeder females. 相似文献
5.
1. Plasma creatine kinase activity was determined at 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 38 and 48 weeks of age in male and female traditional turkeys fed ad libitum , in male and female turkeys of a sire-line fed ad libitum or restricted to 0.5 during rearing and subsequently to 0.8 of sex-specific ad libitum -fed body weight, and in sire-line males fed ad libitum to 18 weeks and 0.8 of ad libitum body weight thereafter. 2. Plasma creatine kinase activity was low in traditional turkeys and increased rapidly after 12 weeks of age in males and females of the sire-line of turkeys. 3. Food restriction decreased the activity of plasma creatine kinase. 4. There was no difference in plasma creatine kinase activity between the sexes during rearing. After the onset of lay, the activity in plasma from females decreased at 38 weeks of age and rose dramatically in restricted females at 48 weeks when the birds had ceased laying. 5. The changes in plasma creatine kinase activity in females were associated with concomitant changes in ovarian activity as reflected in altered plasma triglyceride concentrations. 相似文献
6.
The left and right antitrochanters of 80 female turkeys of four strains were examined for histopathological changes at sexual maturity. Ten birds of each strain were fed ad libitum and 10 restricted to achieve 0.6 of the bodyweight of the ad libitum fed birds at 24 weeks old when the birds were photostimulated. Bodyweights at sexual maturity (28 to 31 weeks) for the four strains were 5.4, 6.5, 7.6 and 13.2 kg for restricted and 7.5, 9.0, 11.1 and 17.1 kg for ad libitum fed birds. The prevalence and severity of cartilage change increased with mature size and was lower in restricted turkeys then in turkeys fed ad libitum. The results showed that abnormal cartilage changes forming the basis of clinical disease occur in females. The prevalence and severity of lesions were directly related to bodyweight and were not limited to particular genotypes. Lesions were more severe in the centre of the antitrochanter, possibly because of forces exerted by the trochanter. Concentrations of basophilic cells in the hyaline cartilage were associated with the increased prevalence and severity of lesions in large turkeys and may be of significance in the development of osteochondrotic lesions in the antitrochanter. 相似文献
7.
1. An assessment was made of the potential pain and stress from musculo-skeletal disease at 54 weeks of age in large male-line turkeys fed ad libitum or on restricted amounts of food. Males from traditional turkey lines were used as a negative control. 2. Traditional turkeys were fed ad libitum and male-line turkeys were fed ad libitum or restricted to 0.5 during rearing and subsequently to 0.8 of sex-specific ad libitum-fed body weight or fed ad libitum to 18 weeks and 0.8 of ad libitum thereafter. 3. Pain was assessed at 54 weeks of age by the change in number of steps taken by turkeys with or without musculo-skeletal disease after a course of betamethasone, a steroid anti-inflammatory agent with analgesic properties. 4. The numbers of steps over 24 h were recorded using a pedometer and were similar in all 4 treatments before and after treatment with the analgesic. It was concluded that there was no evidence for pain associated with musculo-skeletal disease among the turkeys in this experiment. 5. Musculo-skeletal disease was not associated with raised heterophil-lymphocyte ratio, a recognised index of stress. 相似文献
8.
1. The welfare of male and female male-line turkeys fed ad libitum or food-restricted was determined at 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 36(38) and 46(48) weeks of age using behavioural and physiological indices of well-being. Traditional turkeys fed ad libitum were kept as a control treatment. Restricted male and female male-line turkeys were fed to 0-5 during rearing and subsequently to 0-8 of sex-specific ad libitum-fed body weight. In another treatment, male-line males were fed ad libitum to 18 weeks and 0.8 of ad libitum thereafter. 2. Traditional turkeys and restricted male-line turkeys were more active than ad libitum-fed birds of both sexes. Restricted turkeys showed a high incidence of wall pecking. In the breeding period, about 0.4 of the observations of male-line males were of strutting behaviour whereas traditional male turkeys showed no strutting behaviour at the end of the breeding period. 3. The heterophil lymphocyte ratio (HLR) and the proportion of basophils were not increased in food-restricted turkeys. The HLR was relatively low in traditional birds, compared with male-line turkeys during the rearing period. 4. Plasma corticosterone concentrations were increased by food restriction during the rearing period. Corticosterone concentrations were relatively high in traditional turkeys at 4 and 8 weeks of age only. 5. Plasma lactate dehydrogenase (LIDH) activity was higher from 12 to 24 weeks of age in ad libitum-fed male-line turkeys and was consistent with mortality from cardiovascular disease in this group of turkeys. The pattern of activity of aspartate transaminase was similar, and alkaline phosphatase was inversely related to that of LDH. 6. It was concluded that turkeys may be better able to adjust physiologically to the demands of food restriction than broiler breeders and that there were few deleterious consequences of restricting male turkeys after 18 weeks of age. Male-line turkeys were less active than traditional turkeys. 相似文献
9.
The aim of this study was to quantitate feathering in several companion birds. Besides the ratio of feathers to whole body mass, feather length as well as feather weight were of interest. Furthermore, data on feather loss and growth rates were estimated. In general, it could be observed that the proportion of feathers relative to body mass varied between 14 (canaries) and 7.4% (lovebirds). Feather losses (outside the moult period) amounted to an average of 6.65 (canaries), 8.98 (budgerigars), and 8.43 (lovebirds) mg/bird/day respectively or 37 (canaries), 20 (budgerigars), and 17 (lovebirds) mg/100 g body weight/day (values of interest in calculating of protein requirements for maintenance). In canaries, the average growth rate of the developing feathers amounted to 2 mm/day. In contrast to the onset of feather regeneration, the growth rate of new feathers leaving the follicle was not influenced by the supplements used here. The regeneration period (first measurable feather growth) of a plucked pinion can be used as an indicator and objective parameter to test potential nutritional influences. Parallel to the improvement of nutrient supply the rates of feather losses and also replacement increased, whereas the rates decreased when seed mixtures without any addition of minerals, sulphurous amino acids, and vitamins were fed. 相似文献
10.
1. Females from a medium body weight strain of turkeys were fed ad libitum or restricted to 0.6 of ad libitum-fed body weight at sexual maturity and were photostimulated at 18, 24 or 30 weeks of age. Ovarian follicular structure was assessed in 8 birds from both rearing treatments at photostimulation, after photostimulation for 6 or 12 weeks and at 55 weeks of age. 2. The patterns of small white follicles and of larger yellow follicles were similar in restricted and in ad libitum-fed turkeys for birds in lay at the same age, regardless of the time elapsed since photostimulation. 3. Among birds in lay the number of normal yellow follicles and the proportion of multiple yellow follicles declined with age. A relatively low proportion of restricted birds photostimulated at 18 and 24 weeks were in lay after 12 weeks of photostimulation. 4. For birds in lay the number of white follicles 1.4 to less than 1.8 mm in diameter increased and the number greater than 1.8 mm declined with age. There was a corresponding increase in the rates of atresia in follicles 1.8 to less than 5.0 mm in diameter. 相似文献
11.
1. Day old female chicks from two lines of broilers, selected for high or low plasma concentrations of very low density lipoproteins, were fed ad libitum or restricted until point of lay. All birds were fed ad libitum after laying an egg, and aspects of growth and reproduction were measured to 40 weeks of age. 2. Compared with lean line birds the growth rate of fat line females fed ad libitum declined from 16 weeks of age. 3. Mortality from apparently stress-related causes in ad libitum fed fat line females increased from 16 weeks of age and was 71% overall, compared with 26% in ad libitum fed lean line females. Mortality in the corresponding restricted birds was 20% and 7%, respectively. 4. Few fat line females fed ad libitum commenced lay and those which were restricted during rearing stopped laying after the initiation of ad libitum feeding. Egg productions in lean line birds fed ad libitum or restricted were similar. 5. Fat line females fed ad libitum had few yellow follicles and a high rate of atresia at first egg and between 37 and 39 weeks, as did restricted fat line birds between 37 and 39 weeks of age after being fed ad libitum. 6. Plasma concentrations of oestradiol-17 beta were 5-fold higher in fat compared with lean line females at 35 weeks of age. There was a similar large difference in concentrations of plasma triglyceride which reached 59 mg/ml in fat line females fed ad libitum. 相似文献
12.
1. Dwarf broiler breeders were either fed ad libitum or restricted to allow growth to mean body weights of 1.4 or 1.8 kg at 20 weeks of age. During the breeding period these birds were fed ad libitum, or food was restricted to different degrees and the birds subjected to two different incremental lighting patterns. 2. Egg production of birds fed ad libitum during the breeding period increased with the degree of food restriction during rearing. 3. Food restriction during the breeding period increased the egg production of birds weighing 1.8 kg at 20 weeks but decreased that of birds weighing only 1.4 kg. 4. Fertility was relatively low and inversely related to body fatness of females. 5. The differences in lighting pattern did not influence performance. 6. For optimum reproductive performance during the rearing period dwarfs should not be restricted so severely as conventional breeders. Best chick production was obtained from birds with a bodyweight of 1.8 kg at 20 weeks of age, which were subjected to a 10% restriction of food during the breeding period. 相似文献
13.
1. Ovarian function was assessed at first egg and at 44 and 54 weeks of age in traditional turkeys and in a male-line fed ad libitum or restricted to 0.5 of ad libitum during rearing. Egg production was recorded daily and fertility and hatchability were determined at 2 ages. 2. Age at sexual maturity did not differ between the 3 treatments. 3. The number of follicles at first egg in the male line averaged 16.3 compared with 8.9 in traditional turkeys. Food restriction in the male line decreased the number of yellow follicles to 14.6 at first egg and restricted birds were largely in a non-reproductive state from 44 to 54 weeks of age. 4. The total number of recorded ovipositions to 54 weeks of age in male line fed ad libitum or restricted and traditional turkeys respectively were 40.1, 25.2 and 70.7; comparable productions of normal shelled eggs were 28, 20 and 66.3. 5. There were no differences between treatments in fertility after a single insemination at 2 different ages. Hatch of fertiles after the first inseminations were 71.4, 45.5 and 90.3 respectively for male line fed ad libitum or restricted and traditional turkeys. 相似文献
14.
P M Hocking 《British poultry science》1992,33(2):437-448
1. The relationships between the numbers of ovarian yellow follicles and body weight was investigated in four strains of turkeys photostimulated at 24 or 30 weeks of age. The birds were fed ad libitum or control fed to reach 0.8 or 0.6 of the body weight of ad libitum-fed birds at 24 weeks of age. 2. There were more yellow follicles at 24 compared with 30 weeks of age. 3. The number of yellow follicles was higher in bigger strains. 4. Body weight control reduced the number and the proportion of similar sized yellow follicles. The effect decreased with increasing strain body weight. 5. There was a linear relationship of 0.633 between log yellow follicle number and log body weight. The intercept was higher in turkeys photostimulated at 24 compared with 30 weeks of age. 相似文献
15.
L. Vargas N. K. Sakomura B. B. Leme F. A. P. Antayhua D. Campos 《British poultry science》2020,61(4):454-464
ABSTRACT 1. Changes in feather length and weight and daily losses of down, contour feathers, remiges and retrices were studied in two commercial broiler strains to determine feather growth and moult in broilers up to 112 d of age. 2. Ten pens of 20 chicks for each sex x strain were fed adequate amounts of dietary protein in a four-phase feeding programme. Ten birds were sampled per genotype at 14, 28, 42, 56, 70, 84, 98 and 112 d. Feather loss was determined for individual birds caged within a nylon net. 3. All feathers were dry-plucked from each of seven tracts, with representative feathers from the capital-cervical, dorsopelvic and interscapular, pectoral and femoral tracts being randomly selected. Three rectrices of the dorsocaudal tract and three primaries and secondaries of the humeral-alar tract of the right wing were evaluated. 4. The length of the selected feathers was measured, and the feathers from each tract and from the whole bird were weighed. 5. A wide range of rates of maturing (0.0250–0.0907/d) and mature weights (9.62–52.9 g) were evident between sampled tracts. 6. Feather weight failed to predict some moults which were detected by the measurement of feather losses. From the weight data, moulting was evident only in the humeral-alar and dorsocaudal tracts, whereas, when daily losses were measured, contour feathers accounted for over 0.7 proportion of feather losses. Logistic equations adequately described the cumulative losses of down, contour feathers and remiges. 7. Feather loss needs to be considered when feather growth is determined from feather weight at different ages. 8. The rate of maturing (B) of feathers was numerically higher in Ross males and females than in the Cobb strain. In females, B was higher than in males (0.0483 vs. 0335/d) but the mature weight was lower (162 vs. 230 g). 相似文献
16.
1. The response of the reproductive system to photostimulation was investigated during the rearing period in dwarf broiler breeder females maintained from hatch on 8 h light/d. The effect of increased body fat on this response was investigated. Body fat was increased by diluting the diet with maize oil. 2. A significant increase in plasma luteinising hormone (LH) was observed 4 d after photostimulation with 20 h light/d at 3 and 15 weeks of age in birds fed the restricted diet alone and at 3, 7, 11, 15 and 19 weeks of age in birds fed the restricted diet diluted with maize oil. 3. Increases in ovarian weight were observed two weeks after photostimulation at 15 weeks of age in birds fed the restricted diet alone and at 7, 11 and 15 weeks of age in birds fed the restricted diet diluted with maize oil. Increases in oviduct weight were seen after photostimulation at 11, 15 and 19 weeks of age in both dietary treatment groups; however, a larger increase in oviduct weight was seen at 15 and 19 weeks of age in birds fed the restricted diet diluted with maize oil. 4. In a second experiment, the dilution of a diet fed ad libitum with maize oil significantly increased body fat content and the baseline concentration of LH but did not enhance the response of the reproductive system to photostimulation. 5. Baseline plasma LH concentrations were lower in birds fed ad libitum than in those fed a restricted diet. 6. It is concluded that the neuroendocrine pathways involved in the transmission of photoperiodic information are functional at 3 weeks of age. The function of the components of the hypothalamo-pituitary complex which control reproductive activity is enhanced when a restricted diet diluted with maize oil is fed. 相似文献
17.
1. Broiler breeder females were reared on one of three growth curves (ad libitum, conventional or modified restriction) and given rations containing a high or low concentration of crude protein. After the peak rate of lay they were fed ad libitum or a decreasing quantity of food in response to declining egg production. The welfare of the birds was assessed by determining the changes in indices of welfare at 36, 48 and 60 weeks of age. 2. Body weight increased rapidly in restricted birds fed ad libitum post-peak and water intake declined. 3. Post-peak food restriction was associated with a decrease in resting and increased drinking and spot-pecking activities. Birds that were food restricted during rearing spent more time foraging and spot-pecking at 36 and 48 but not 60 weeks of age. 4. Immune function increased with age but was not affected by the experimental treatments. The heterophil-lymphocyte ratio in birds fed ad libitum during rearing was numerically lower at 36 and higher at 48 and 60 weeks of age compared with restricted birds. 5. There was no effect of treatment on plasma corticosterone concentration. Creatine kinase activity was high at 60 weeks in treatments that were characterised by poor reproductive status and the activities of other enzymes reflected differences in reproductive status and mortality. 6. There was no long-term welfare or production advantage from feeding low protein rations or more generous feeding during the rearing period compared with conventional food restriction programmes. 相似文献
18.
Describing the growth and molt of modern domestic turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) primary wing feathers
Emily M Leishman Nienke van Staaveren Don R McIntyre Jeff Mohr Benjamin J Wood Christine F Baes Alexandra Harlander-Matauschek 《Journal of animal science》2020,98(12)
The use of feathers as noninvasive physiological measurements of biomarkers in poultry research is expanding. Feather molting patterns and growth rates, however, are not well described in domestic poultry. These parameters could influence the measurement of these biomarkers. Therefore, the objective of this study was to describe the juvenile primary feather molting patterns and feather growth rates for domestic turkeys. The 10 primary wing feathers of 48 female turkeys were measured weekly from week 1 (0 d of age) to week 20. Feathers were manually measured, and the presence or absence of each primary feather was recorded weekly. Generalized linear mixed models were used to investigate if feather growth differed between the primary feathers. The molting of the juvenile primary feathers followed a typical descending pattern starting with P1 (5 wk of age), while P9 and P10 had not molted by the end of the study (20 wk of age). The average feather growth rate was 2.4 cm/wk, although there was a significant difference between the 10 primary feathers (P < 0.0001, 2.1 to 2.8 cm/wk). Over time, feather growth followed a pattern where the growth rate reaches a peak and then declines until the feather is molted. The results of this study provide a critical update of patterns of molting and feather growth in primary wing feathers of modern turkeys. This can have implications for the interpretation of physiological biomarkers, such as the longitudinal deposition of corticosterone, in the feathers of domestic turkeys. 相似文献
19.
1. Broiler breeder females were fed restricted allocations of a standard wheat-soy ration to meet target body weights. They were housed on raised plastic slotted floors (S) or wood shavings litter (L) from hatch to 8 weeks when each pen of 12 birds was transferred to another pen in the same block in a 2 x 2 factorial experiment (LL, LS, SL and SS). Measures of bird welfare were taken at 4 weeks of age, and at 9 and 10 weeks following transfer to the new pens. 2. At 4 weeks of age, birds reared on S spent more time standing, pecking the feeder, the wall and other birds and less time pecking the floor compared with those on L. Gentle feather pecks, strong feather pecks and strong feather pulls were more common in S than L. 3. Mean body weight was higher and coefficient of variation lower in birds on L than S at the end of the experiment. Feather loss and damage scores at 10 weeks were higher for birds reared from hatch to 8 weeks on S. 4. Birds that were reared on S continued to peck more at the pen walls after transfer to new pens but there was no other carry-over effect on behaviour. Birds on S at 9 and 10 weeks pecked more at the walls and less often at the floor, and rested less often. There was more feather pecking on S than on L in the second week post transfer. 5. Tonic immobility was greater and plasma corticosterone concentrations were lower at the end of the experiment in birds on L than S at 9 and 10 weeks of age. The heterophil-lymphocyte ratio was similar between treatments at 4 weeks and after the birds were moved to a new pen. 6. The results are consistent with the view that litter and wall pecking has de-arousing properties and that this activity is re-directed foraging that diminishes the stress of feed restriction. 相似文献
20.
1. The phase of rapid development of ovarian follicles in turkeys fed ad libitum or given a restricted allocation of food from 6 to 30 weeks of age was determined by feeding a fat soluble dye and counting the number of rings of dye in the yolks of laid eggs. 2. The duration of rapid growth was similar in ad libitum and restricted birds and averaged 11.6 d. The maximum number of yellow follicles greater than 8 mm expected in the hierarchy of the turkey hen is 9 to 10 compared with 6 to 7 in the chicken. 3. Discontinuous growth was observed in a series of follicles from one bird. This is believed to be the first report of arrested follicular growth in the turkey. 相似文献