The Comparative Growth Rates of Turkeys, Ducks, Geese and Pheasants

Abstract

EXTENSIVE studies have been made of the growth rates of various species of animals, and several attempts have been made to deduce laws of growth from these data. Before general laws of growth can be established it is essential that a large body of data should be collected and carefully classified and analyzed. One of the objectives of any growth study, therefore, is to add to this body of data. Knowledge of the rates of growth of different species of animals is of value for at least two reasons. (1) Species may differ in the efficiency of transformation of food into flesh. (2) The efficiencies of transformation may vary at different ages within species. It is generally accepted that environmental conditions affect rates of growth even though environmental influences may be overcome at “maturity.” Therefore it would be highly desirable that environmental influences be as nearly identical as possible for . . .