In vivo effects of biosynthetic chicken growth hormone in broiler-strain chickens.

Two experiments were conducted to examine the effects of growth hormone (GH) in growing chickens older than broiler age. In experiment 1, 8 week old male (heavy "broiler" type strain) chickens received daily injections of either biosynthetic chicken GH or an implant of biosynthetic bovine GH for 3 weeks. Neither growth rate (daily weight gain) nor the feed:gain ratio was influenced by either preparation of GH. However, an increase in breast muscle was observed in birds receiving the higher dose (250 micrograms/kg/day) of chicken GH. No changes were observed with chicken GH treatment on the weights of the fat pad, heart, gizzard and shank bone or on shank bone length or on plasma concentrations of free fatty acids. Experiment 2 employed 12 week old male, heavy strain, chickens with biosynthetic chicken GH being administered via Alzet osmotic pumps. In this study, GH (50 micrograms/kg/day) increased growth rate, body weight, pectoralis (breast) muscle weight, adipose tissue weight, bursa Fabricius weight and the plasma concentrations of free fatty acids. It is concluded that GH can influence carcass composition and growth in older chickens.