Allometric Bone Development in Floor-Reared Broilers

Abstract

Male and female broilers of a commercial strain were grown to 56 days of age in litter-floored pens, receiving diets calculated to meet nutrient requirements suggested by the National Research Council. At weekly intervals birds were weighed and some were sacrificed to determine linear bone growth and mineral content of bones. Data presented in this report should be a useful benchmark for evaluation of field problems, growth modeling, or other types of nutritional or physiological studies.