Abstract
CONSIDERABLE work has been reported concerning the consequences of underfeeding poultry and animals in the early stages of growth1,2. Quite typically, growth in terms of weight gain is markedly reduced, but some tissues of the animal, particularly the connective tissues, cartilage, etc., continue to develop1. Basal rations used to examine amino-acid requirements usually do little more than slow down growth or maturation rates. However, we have now found that for the chick, depending somewhat on the strain used, tryptophan-deficient diets fed to chicks weighing less than 80–100 g completely stopped gain in weight and all, or nearly all, visible signs of subsequent maturation. Therefore, it was of interest to observe whether prolonged tryptophan deficiency would affect subsequent maturation or physiological development. Reproduction (egg production) was chosen as a very sensitive indicator of successful maturation in the chicken.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Wilson, P. N., and Osbourn, D. F., Biol. Rev., 35, 324 (1960).
Ross, M. H., Fed. Proc., 18, 1190 (1959).
Nutrient Requirements of Poultry, Nat. Res. Coun. (1954).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
GORDON, R. Growth Stasis and Tryptophan Deficiency in the Very Young Chicken. Nature 203, 320–321 (1964). https://doi.org/10.1038/203320a0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/203320a0
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.