Genetic Differences in Growth Potential on Amino Acid Deficient Diets.

Abstract

Summary Chicks from hens from a random-bred flock were raised to 4 weeks of age on either an arginine- or a lysine-deficient diet. The results showed an inherited growth potential for chicks given either amino-acid-deficient diet. In most cases, offspring of any one dam behaved differently on the 2 deficient diets. The ranking of dams on the basis of growth potential of offspring given a complete ration was similar to that obtained on the arginine- but not the lysine-deficient ration. The coefficient of variation of 4-week weights was greatest on the arginine-deficient diet and least on the complete diet.