http://www.loc.gov/mods/v3 http://www.loc.gov/standards/mods/v3/mods-3-2.xsd
influence of gonadal development on lipid accretion in commercial broilers
Four experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of unilateral and bilateral gonadectomy of male and female broilers on their subsequent performance and to measure the effects of exogenous sex hormones on lipid accretion in bilaterally gonadectomized male and female broilers. Commercial broiler chicks were subjected to left side gonadectomy, sham operation or designated as non-surgery controls at 3 days of age. The same procedures were performed on the right side at 10 days of age. Gonad removal had no significant effect on 8 or 20-week body weights of either sex. Significantly reduced comb size was evident in bilaterally gonadectomized males and females and reduced wattle size in gonadectomized males. Bursa weights were significantly increased in all gonadectomized males and females at 8 weeks of age when expressed as a percent of body weight. Significantly increased in shank length, corrected for body weight, was noted in ovariectomized females. Reduced hematocrit and bone ash values were observed in 20-week old gonadectomized males. Significant reductions in 8 week abdominal fat pad weight were noted for both gonadectomized male and female broilers. By 20 weeks of age these differences were no longer evident. No significant differences were noted in thigh or breast tissue moisture between bilateral gonadectomized and non-surgery control birds of either sex. Percent fat for thigh or breast tissues was not altered in either sex by gonadectomy. A positive correlation between 4 week, 8 week, and 20 week body weights was noted in control males and ovariectomized females. In gonadectomized males, a positive correlation was evident between 4 and 8 week body weights but not 20 week body weight. A significant positive correlation was observed between abdominal fat and 8 week body weights in control males and females; this relationship was not evident in gonadectomized females. Comb score was found to be positively correlated with 8 week weight, 20 week weight, abdominal fat, shank length, bone ash, and percent fat of thigh and breast tissue in control males and females; however, this relationship was not evident in gonadectomized males.
Ph. D. in Poultry Science Texas A & M University 1986
Includes bibliographical references (leaves 108-117).