AA肉鸡生长期肌肉生长规律的探讨

以AA肉鸡商品代为试验材料,公母各100只,在0、7、14、21、28、35、42日龄随机抽取公、母各8只,分别称量活重、腿肌重、胸肌重、全净膛重。分析7、14、21、28、35、42日龄AA肉鸡腿肌、胸肌的相对生长、累积生长、肌肉率,探讨肌肉的生长规律。结果表明,AA肉鸡公鸡在7、42日龄时腿肌重和胸肌重均极显著地高于母鸡(P<0.01);21日龄公鸡的腿肌重显著大于母鸡(P<0.05);其余公、母鸡间的差异均未达到显著水平(P>0.05)。总体看AA肉鸡胸肌的生长强度大于腿肌。从腿肌的累积生长看,公、母鸡的差异主要在35～42日龄之间;而胸肌的累积生长显示公、母鸡间的不同主要在28～42日龄之间,而0～28日龄期间二者几乎重合。就公、母鸡肌肉率而言,二者的差别主要在42日龄时的腿肌率,公鸡高出母鸡3.01%。     

不同生长阶段麻黄肉鸡生长、器官发育和肉品质变化规律研究

旨在研究不同性别麻黄肉鸡生长性能、肌肉和器官随日龄增加而变化的规律。试验选取288只1日龄的麻黄肉鸡,按性别分为2组,每组8个重复,每个重复18只鸡。试验期共分为4个生长阶段：1～21日龄、22～42日龄、43～63日龄、64～84日龄,试验期共计84 d。结果表明：(1)试验全期,公鸡末重(P<0.05)、平均日采食量(ADFI)(P<0.01)、平均日增重(ADG)(P<0.01)显著高于母鸡;22～42日龄,公鸡末重、ADFI、ADG显著高于母鸡(P<0.01);试验43～63日龄,公鸡末重(P<0.05)、ADFI(P<0.05)、ADG(P<0.01)、料重比(F/G)(P<0.05)均显著高于母鸡;试验64～84日龄,公鸡末重(P<0.05)、ADFI(P<0.01)、ADG(P<0.05)显著高于母鸡。(2)麻黄肉鸡的肝脏相对重量随日龄增加而线性降低(P<0.01),脾脏和胸腺相对重量呈现二次曲线形式提高(P<0.01),法氏囊相对重量呈现二次曲线形式降低(P<0.01)。(3)公鸡的胰腺...     

AA肉鸡生长期免疫器官生长规律的探讨

以AA肉鸡商品代为试验材料,公母各100只,在0、7、14、21、28、35、42日龄随机抽取公、母各10只,分别称取免疫器官(胸腺、法氏囊、脾脏)重量,探讨肉鸡生长期免疫器官的生长规律。结果表明,AA肉鸡的脾脏重除35日龄时公鸡显著大于母鸡(P<0.05)外,其余各日龄公、母鸡差异不显著(P>0.05);胸腺重各日龄公、母鸡间均无显著差异(P>0.05);法氏囊重7日龄时公鸡极显著地大于母鸡(P<0.01),35日龄时显著高于母鸡(P<0.05),其余各日龄公、母鸡间差异均未达到显著水平(P>0.05)。分析AA肉鸡生长期免疫器官的器官指数、相对生长和累积生长,建立免疫器官(y)与日龄(x)的直线回归方程,其拟合精度均在0.85以上,效果良好。     

饲粮苏氨酸水平对1～21日龄黄羽肉鸡生长性能、胴体品质、脂肪代谢和免疫功能的影响

本试验旨在通过研究饲粮苏氨酸水平对1～21日龄黄羽肉鸡生长性能、胴体品质、脂肪代谢和免疫功能的影响,以确定1～21日龄黄羽肉鸡适宜的苏氨酸需要量。试验选用1日龄快大型岭南黄羽肉鸡雏鸡2 000只,按体重相同原则随机分为5组,每组8个重复(公母各占1/2),每个重复50只鸡。5个组的试验鸡分别饲喂含0.60%(基础饲粮)、0.67%、0.74%、0.81%和0.88%苏氨酸的饲粮,试验期为21 d。结果表明:1)饲粮苏氨酸水平显著影响黄羽肉鸡公鸡、母鸡的末重、平均日增重、平均日采食量和料重比(P0.05)。0.88%苏氨酸水平组黄羽肉鸡母鸡平均日增重和平均日采食量最高,0.74%苏氨酸水平组黄羽肉鸡公鸡平均日增重和平均日采食量最高。根据生长性能指标和回归分析结果,确定黄羽肉鸡母鸡饲粮苏氨酸最适水平为0.81%,黄羽肉鸡公鸡饲粮苏氨酸最适水平为0.79%。2)饲粮苏氨酸水平显著影响黄羽肉鸡公鸡、母鸡的全净膛率、半净膛率和腿肌率(P0.05)。0.88%苏氨酸水平组黄羽肉鸡母鸡半净膛率和全净膛率最高,0.74%苏氨酸水平组黄羽肉鸡母鸡腿肌率最高;0.81%苏氨酸水平组黄羽肉鸡公鸡半净膛率最高,0.74%苏氨酸水平组黄羽肉鸡公鸡全净膛率和腿肌率最高。根据胴体品质指标和回归分析结果,确定黄羽肉鸡公鸡饲粮苏氨酸最适水平为0.77%,黄羽肉鸡母鸡饲粮苏氨酸最适水平为0.88%。3)饲粮苏氨酸水平显著影响黄羽肉鸡公鸡、母鸡的胸腺指数(P0.05),其中0.88%苏氨酸水平组黄羽肉鸡公鸡和母鸡胸腺指数最高。4)饲粮苏氨酸水平对黄羽肉鸡母鸡血清中甘油三酯(TG)、免疫球蛋白G(IgG)、白细胞介素-6(IL-6)和胰岛素(INS)含量有显著影响(P0.05),其中0.88%苏氨酸水平组血清中TG和INS含量最低,0.88%苏氨酸水平组血清中IL-6和IgG含量最高;饲粮苏氨酸水平对黄羽肉鸡公鸡血清中低密度脂蛋白、INS、IL-6和IgG含量有显著影响(P0.05),其中0.88%苏氨酸水平组血清中LDL和INS含量最低,0.88%苏氨酸水平组血清中IL-6和IgG含量最高。5)饲粮苏氨酸水平显著影响黄羽肉鸡血液中T淋巴细胞增殖率(P0.05),黄羽肉鸡母鸡和公鸡均是0.81%苏氨酸水平组血液中T淋巴细胞增殖率最高。由以上结果可以得出,饲粮中添加适宜水平苏氨酸可以提高黄羽肉鸡生长性能、胴体品质和增强免疫功能。以生长性能为主要判定指标,确定1～21日龄黄羽肉鸡母鸡饲粮苏氨酸最适水平为0.81%,黄羽肉鸡公鸡饲粮苏氨酸最适水平为0.79%。     

日粮添加胆汁酸对肉鸡生产性能、血清生化指标与屠宰性能的影响

试验旨在研究日粮添加胆汁酸对肉鸡生产性能、血液生化指标以及屠宰性能的影响。选取2 400只1日龄AA肉仔鸡,分为4个处理,每个处理6个重复,每个重复100只。处理1(公鸡)和处理2(母鸡)饲喂基础日粮,处理3(公鸡)和处理4(母鸡)饲喂添加500 g/t胆汁酸的日粮。在21和35日龄时统计生产性能。36日龄时,每个重复随机选取两只鸡静脉采血后屠宰,测定血清生化指标及屠宰性能。结果显示:饲养前期(1~21 d),日粮添加胆汁酸显著提高了公鸡和母鸡平均体重、平均体增重和欧洲效益指数(P0.05),料肉比有降低趋势(P0.1);饲养全期,公鸡生产性能极显著高于母鸡(P0.01),日粮添加胆汁酸显著提高了肉鸡血液中总胆固醇的含量(P0.05),显著提高了肉鸡的腿肌率(P0.05),胸肌率也有升高的趋势(P0.1),母鸡的腹脂率显著高于公鸡(P0.05)。结果表明,胆汁酸能显著提高肉鸡前期生产性能,并且能改善肉鸡屠宰性能,对血液中脂肪代谢也有一定影响。     

肉鸡腹水综合征的病因机理剖析及综合防制对策

现代商品肉鸡具有生长快、饲料报酬高、周转快的特点,需用高能高蛋白日粮方能促其早出栏,然而伴随着肉鸡产业的发展,生产中腹水综合征(AS)的发生率渐呈上升趋势。由本病引起的屠体品质下降或死亡将使肉鸡生产者蒙受损失,必须加以重视。1发病特点及典型症状该病多发于快速生长期的肉鸡,特别是快大型品种,一般死亡高峰为4～6周龄,近年来,发病日龄越来越小,偶有3～5日龄雏鸡发病的报道,一般情况下,生长速度快的大型品种发病率和死亡率高于生长慢的品种,公鸡比母鸡易感,发病死亡率为1%～2%,严重情况高达80%。高海拔地区,冬春寒冷季节,恶劣饲养…     

0～21和22～42日龄黄羽肉鸡可消化蛋氨酸需要量的研究

试验一和试验二分别选用1日龄和22日龄岭南黄鸡各2 000只和1 600只,按性别和体重分成10处理组(公、母鸡各5组),每组4重复栏,每栏50(试验一)和40只鸡(试验二)。2个试验均采用5(饲粮蛋氨酸水平)×2(性别)两因子试验设计,试验一和二分别设0.35%、0.40%、0.45%、0.50%和0.55%以及0.30%、0.35%、0.40%、0.45%和0.50%5个饲粮蛋氨酸水平。结果表明:随着饲粮蛋氨酸水平提高,0～21日龄和22～42日龄公、母鸡每日总蛋氨酸摄入量和真可消化蛋氨酸摄入量呈线性或二次曲线升高(P<0.05);0～21日龄公、母鸡的日增重呈二次曲线升高(P<0.05),0～21日龄和22～42日龄公、母鸡的饲料增重比呈二次曲线降低(P<0.05或0.1)。可见,在基础饲粮中添加适量蛋氨酸改善了黄羽肉鸡的生产性能。根据二次回归模型估测黄羽肉鸡获得最佳生产性能95%处的总蛋氨酸需要量和真可消化蛋氨酸需要量,0~21日龄母鸡为0.433%~0.435%和0.404%~0.406%,公鸡为0.445%~0.454%和0.416%~0.425%,22～42日龄母鸡为0.463%和0.437%,公鸡为0.375%和0.349%。     

黄杂肉鸡生产技术

黄杂肉鸡是由商品代蛋鸡母鸡与父母代红羽肉鸡公鸡杂交而生产的，其特征是适应性强、成活率高、生长速度次于肉鸡而快于土鸡，鸡肉细嫩、味鲜美而颇有“土鸡”风味，且毛色似土鸡。1 黄杂肉鸡种鸡的选育1．1 父本选育。目前选择作父本的红羽肉鸡种公鸡品种是用以色列培育的安纳克肉鸡品种。在生产中选择时，要选择体型大、生长速度快、饲料报酬高、皮下脂肪少和健壮的公鸡作父本。1．2 母本。主要是广大农户饲养的商品代蛋用型母鸡，如罗曼和依莎品种。2 黄杂肉鸡繁殖技术2．1 制种种鸡初配日龄2．1．1 母鸡配种日龄。一般是140～150日龄，…     

父母代海星公鸡与商品代海赛克斯母鸡杂交后代生产性能观测

用父母代海星101肉鸡公鸡与商品代海赛克斯蛋鸡母鸡杂交,其杂交鸡30日龄育雏成活率90.7%;公鸡饲养70日龄体重3.14kg;母鸡56周龄产蛋量144枚。在农村专业户低档日粮条件下每只商品鸡创毛利润10.41元,比同等条件下饲养红宝×罗曼杂交鸡多创收2元。     

AA肉鸡生长期消化道各部分长度变化规律的探讨

以AA肉鸡商品代为试验材料,公母各100只,在0、7、14、21、28、35、42日龄随机抽取公、母各8只,分别测量消化道各部分长度,包括食道、十二指肠、空肠、回肠、盲肠和直肠,探讨生长期消化道各部分长度的变化规律。结果表明,AA肉鸡除14日龄时公鸡回肠显著长于母鸡(P<0.05)外,其余各日龄消化道各部分长度二者间差异均未达到显著水平(P>0.05)。消化道各部分长度的生长势重点都在28日龄以前,28日龄以后为保持期。     

A Study of Electrocardiographic Patterns in a Population of Commercial Broiler Chickens

Olkowski, A.A., Classen, H.L., Riddell, C. and Bennett, C.D., 1997. A study of electrocardiographic patterns in a population of commercial broiler chickens. Veterinary Research Communications, 21 (1), 51-62. A study was completed to characterize the electrocardiographic (ECG) patterns of male broiler chickens. Data were collected from 300 commercial broilers. ECG readings were collected from all birds between 12 and 15 days of age and then twice more at 10-day intervals. The measurements included heart rate and rhythm, QRS complex duration, amplitude and mean electrical axis (MEA), incidence of ascites and incidence of sudden death syndrome (SDS). Eight birds died from SDS and 4 birds died from ascites. Twelve birds were condemned for ascites at the processing plant. The overall population heart rate declined with age. Birds that died of SDS had a higher heart rate, whereas those that developed ascites had a lower heart rate than the remainder of the population. The normal MEA was found to be between 0° and 180°. On average 30% of birds showed left or right QRS axis deviation, and this pattern was observed in 14 of the 16 birds that developed ascites. Several types of cardiac arrhythmias were observed, the most common being premature ventricular contractions (PVC). The incidence of PVC increased with age, ranging from 1% at 12-15 days of age to 8.9% at 32-35 days of age. QRS axis deviation was present in 5 SDS birds. It is concluded that some 30% of the broiler flock tested was at risk of developing heart failure or heart-related disease.     

红三叶异黄酮对低温诱发肉鸡腹水综合症发生和抗氧化性能的影响

观察在低温环境下红三叶异黄酮对肉鸡腹水综合症的防治效果及其对肉鸡抗氧化性的影响。300羽肉鸡随机分为3组:常温对照组,低温组、低温黄酮组,采用低温诱发 AS,记录AS发病数,并分别于14,21,28,35和42 d从各组随机抽取6羽肉鸡取样,测定右心肥大指数,红细胞压积,血清和肝脏组织的SOD、MDA和GSH-Px等指标。结果表明环境低温使肉鸡腹水综合症发病率升高,肉鸡日粮添加红三叶异黄酮能够有效地降低寒冷诱发的AS发病率,右心肥大指数和红细胞压积,并提高了抗氧化性能。     

心钠素在肉鸡腹水综合征发生发展中的作用

大群艾维菌商品代肉鸡从1日龄起用高能日粮常规饲养，以获得自然腹水综合征（ascites syndrome，AS）病例。应用放射免疫分析方法，分别测定了2～6周龄正常组、轻度腹水组、重度腹水组内鸡血浆和5周龄时心、肝、肺、肾等组织心钠素（atrial natriuretic polypeptide,ANP）的含量；用右心导管法测定了平均肺动脉压（mPAP），并用常规方法测定了腹水心脏指数（AHI），同时还对血浆ANP的含量与AHI、mPAP的相关性进行了分析。结果发现，随着日龄的增长，ANP的含量增加，AHI、mPAP也随着发生明显的变化；随腹水程度的加深，mPAP、AHI以及肉鸡血浆、组织ANP的含量均显著（P〈0．05）或极显著（P〈0．01）升高，组织中ANP的含量明显比血浆中的高；另外还发现，不同腹水程度肉鸡血浆ANP含量与5～6周龄时的mPAP、4～5周龄时的AHI相关性显著（P〈0．05）。结果表明，ANP参与了肉鸡AS的发生和发展过程并与肉鸡发生AS的程度有密切关系。     

Effects of Early Feed Restriction on Performance and Ascites Development in Broiler Chickens Subsequently Raised at Low Ambient Temperature

The objective of this study was to examine the effectiveness of early-age growth limitation, achieved through feed restriction (FR), as a means of reducing ascites mortality in broiler chickens exposed to low ambient temperatures. Feed restriction was applied to broilers from 5 to 11 d of age so as to reduce their weight gain to about 40% of that of control broilers that were fed ad libitum (AL). At the age of 21 d the chickens were exposed to a temperature of 15°C, which induced ascites. By 46 d of age, ascites incidence and mortality in the feed-restricted birds were reduced to 15.79 vs. 36.84% and 7.89 vs. 26.32%, respectively, compared with those in the controls (P < 0.05). After feed restriction was stopped, the FR chickens had accelerated weight gain and improved feed conversion ratio from 11 to 18 d of age (P < 0.05), and by 46 d they had achieved the same body weight as the AL birds. Ascitic broilers had smaller relative breast muscle and spleen weights than those of the healthy broilers at 46 d (P < 0.05). However, the relative weights of lung, heart, and liver and the right ventricle weight per total ventricle weight (RV:TV) ratios were greater in ascitic broilers (P < 0.05). At age 37 d, when ascites had developed but not yet caused mortality, the ascitic broilers had lower plasma concentrations of the thyroid hormones thyroxine and triiodothyronine, and higher hematocrit values (P < 0.05) in comparison with the healthy ones. Ascitic birds also had lower oxygen consumption at 6 wk (P < 0.05), which agrees with information that the terminal stage of the ascites syndrome can be characterized by low oxygen consumption. We concluded that the early-age feed restriction reduced ascites incidence and mortality and prevented reduction of the thyroid hormone concentrations in male broilers reared at low ambient temperature from the age of 3 wk onward.     

Cold-induced ascites in broiler chickens and its improvement by temperature-controlled rearing

Pulmonary hypertension syndrome (PHS), also known as ascites, in broiler chickens prevailed in the local area of Ibaraki prefecture, Japan, and was investigated epidemiologically, serologically, and pathologically. PHS developed in chickens older than 35 days of age when rapid increase of body weight started. Approximately 90% of affected birds were males, in which weight increase was greater than in females. Serologic test revealed that PHS broilers had an increase of hematocrit value. Pathologic studies indicated that the heart of affected birds had an obese-induced pressure and cold exposure triggered congestion in the right ventricle/cava and an increase in peritoneal fluid. These changes were consistent with the previous reports of PHS, so we designed the experiment of effects on cold-induced PHS birds in a temperature-controlled house. After the 10 PHS birds at 55 days were reared for 14 days in a temperature-controlled house at 20 +/- 5 C, ascites disappeared in eight birds and hematocrit values decreased to normal range in nine birds. Our finding indicated that temperature-controlled environment may be one solution to reduce mortality in PHS birds.     

多因素法构建肉鸡腹水综合征实验模型及其对肺组织血管内皮舒缩活性因子的影响

试验旨在研究多因素法构建肉鸡腹水综合征（AS）实验模型及其对肺组织血管内皮舒缩活性因子的影响。将158羽健康罗斯肉鸡随机分为空白组、低温模型组和多因素模型组，于25、35、45日龄随机取样，观察临床症状、剖检变化及肺组织病理变化，测定体重、发病率、腹水心脏指数（AHI），检测肺组织一氧化氮（NO）、内皮素-1（ET-1）、一氧化氮合酶（NOS）变化，并以实时荧光定量PCR法检测肺组织内皮素A型受体（ETAR）及血管内皮生长因子（VEGF）mRNA表达量。结果显示，各日龄低温模型组和多因素模型组肉鸡AHI均极显著高于空白组（P<0.01），各日龄多因素模型组肉鸡AHI均显著高于低温模型组（P<0.05）；35、45日龄低温模型组和各日龄多因素模型组肉鸡体重显著或极显著低于空白组（P<0.05，P<0.01）；35、45日龄低温模型组和各日龄多因素模型组AS发病率均极显著高于空白组（P<0.01），25日龄多因素模型组AS发病率极显著高于低温模型组（P<0.01）；35日龄AS肉鸡肺组织结构损伤，内皮细胞脱落、平滑肌排列紊乱；与空白组相比，35、45日龄低温模型组和多因素模型组肺组织NO与ET-1含量、iNOS活性、ETAR及VEGF mRNA表达量均显著或极显著升高（P<0.05，P<0.01），肺组织NO/ET-1、cNOS与TNOS活性均显著或极显著降低（P<0.05，P<0.01）。表明低温、高钠、高能饲料多因素法能够成功构建AS实验模型，多因素造模法较低温造模法更能反映疾病因素的多样性；肺组织血管内皮舒缩活性因子表达紊乱参与了AS的发生发展。     

Pathogenesis of rotavirus infection in various age groups of chickens and turkeys: clinical signs and virology

Age-related susceptibility patterns of turkeys, broilers, and specific pathogen-free (SPF) White Leghorn chickens to experimentally induced infection with turkey or chicken rotavirus isolates were compared. The following determinants were evaluated: clinical signs, onset and duration of virus production, viral titers, involvement of intestinal villi in the replication of the virus, and the development of antibodies against the virus. Older turkeys and chickens were more susceptible than were their younger counterparts, turkeys were more susceptible than were broiler and White Leghorn chickens (regardless of age), and broiler chickens were slightly more susceptible than were age-matched White Leghorn chickens. Turkeys developed diarrhea, accompanied by high viral titers within 1 day after inoculation with virus. Viral antigen was found in the epithelial cells of the intestinal villi throughout the intestinal tract and some cells of the cecal tonsils. Antibodies could be detected as early as 4 to 5 days after inoculation. These findings were more pronounced in turkeys inoculated at 112 days of age than in birds inoculated at a younger age. Age-related susceptibility patterns were similar in White Leghorn and broiler chickens. Infection was subclinical in birds less than 56 days old, whereas older birds developed soft feces. Egg production in the White Leghorn chickens decreased after being inoculated with virus at 350 days of age.     

内皮素在肺动脉高压综合征肉鸡中的作用

通过急性试验确定内皮素（Endothelin，ET）对试验肉鸡肺动脉压的升压作用及其量效关系；在肉鸡快速生长期长时间给予ET，观察试验鸡发病率变化。结果表明：（1）在25ng／kg剂量静脉给予时，可引起肉鸡肺动脉压升高并达到与发病鸡相近的水平。（2）长期给予ET后，试验组30d发病率为6．7％，44d发病率13．3％，对照组发病率为0。同时，试验组红细胞压积（PCV）、腹水心脏指数（AHI）亦显著高于对照组。此结果表明，ET-1可通过缩血管效应引起肺动脉压升高，是致发肉鸡腹水综合征的一个重要因素。     

Comparison of serum biochemical profiles of male broilers with female broilers and White Leghorn chickens.

Male broiler chickens were compared to female broiler chickens and male White Leghorns with respect to a 15-parameter serum biochemical profile at 9, 20, 30 and 42 days of age in order to determine which, if any, of the parameters tested might be useful in the identification of birds susceptible to sudden death syndrome. In comparison to female broilers, male broilers had significantly lower (p less than 0.01) total protein levels at 20 days of age and significantly higher (p less than 0.01) cholesterol levels at 30 days of age. Compared to male White Leghorns, in which sudden death syndrome has not been reported, male broilers had significantly lower (p less than 0.01) levels of cholesterol and creatinine at nine days of age, total protein at 9 and 20 days of age and albumin at 20 days of age and significantly higher (p less than 0.01) levels of potassium at nine days, uric acid at 9, 20 and 30 days, lactate dehydrogenase at 20, 30 and 42 days and cholesterol at 30 days of age.     

Performance,incidence of metabolic disturbances and endocrine variables of food-restricted male broiler chickens

1. This experiment was carried out to evaluate the productive and physiological consequences of a slight but long term food restriction of male broiler chickens from 2 commercial strains. 2. Cobb-500 and Ross chickens were submitted to a 20% food restriction from 8 to 21 d of age. Strain, food programme and their interactive effects were analysed in terms of consequences upon performance, mortality, incidence of sudden death syndrome (SDS) and ascites syndrome (AS), index of right cardiac hypertrophy and plasma concentrations of hormones related to metabolism and growth (T3, T4, T3:T4 ratio, IGF-I and GH). 3. Although some catch-up growth was observed by refeeding previously restricted birds after 22 d of rearing, food restriction decreased (P ≤ 0.05) body weight at market age (42 d) irrespective of the strain, but improved (P ≤ 0.05) food conversion. 4. The incidence of mortality was not high in non-restricted birds but SDS and AS caused more than 50% of deaths. Hypertrophic cardiac index was observed in chickens of both strains after 4 weeks of age and was higher in ad libitum fed birds. 5. During the period of food restriction, plasma T3 and IGF-I concentrations decreased whereas plasma T4 and GH concentrations increased compared to those of the age-matched ad libitum fed counterparts. During the subsequent ad libitum feeding period, few differences in circulating hormone concentrations were observed, except for the higher mean GH litres in previously food-restricted chickens at 35 d of age. 6. These results indicate that even a non-severe food restriction negatively affects body weight of 42-d-old male broilers but these are benefits with improved food efficiency and diminished mortality from metabolic disturbances. The hormone results suggest that the degree of food restriction applied was not severe because there was a very fast adaptive response with small and transient alterations in T3, T4 and GH plasma concentrations during the period of compensatory growth.