| Abstrakt: |
The effect of in ovo administration of hormones on broiler growth were investigated. In Experiment 1, fertile eggs were injected on day 18 of incubation with bovine growth hormone (pGH), porcine growth hormone (pGH), thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH), or vehicle. Hormone administration increased the body weights of males at 1 and 3 wk posthatch. In Experiment 2, fertile eggs were injected with pGH, TRH, or vehicle. A 27% protein diet was fed to 4 wk, and a 22% protein diet was fed from 4 to 8 wk. In Experiment 3, fertile eggs were injected with ovine growth hormone (oGH), TRH, or vehicle. The body weights of females increased at wk 6 following pGH treatments in Experiment 2 and at wk 4, 6 and 8 for oGH-treated birds fed a 22% protein diet from 0-8 wk in Experiment 3. Day 18 of in ovo administration of hormones did not persistently increase body weights except in oGH-treated females fed a 22% protein diet throughout the study. |
