GROWTH RETARDATION EFFECTS OF SOME GLUCOCORTICOIDS AND GLUCAGON IN CHICKENS

Abstract

Three experiments were conducted to test the effects of Lipo-adrenal cortex (LAC), cortisone acetate (CA), hydrocortisone acetate (HCA) and glucagon (G) in broiler chickens. Oral administration of 38.7, 69.6 or 96.8 mg CA per bird significantly retarded body weight gain between days 14 and 21. HCA administered intramuscularly in doses varying from 2 to 24 mg/100 g of body weight significantly decreased body weight gain between days 14 and 28. Shank growth was similarly affected by doses over 4 mg HCA. The same doses significantly increased liver weight. At 3 months of age, birds recovered from growth retardation caused by the injection of 4 mg HCA/100 g of body weight at 14 days of age. Experimental results indicate that 2 or 4 mg HCA/100 g of body weight, administered by one injection at 14 days of age, may be used to increase growth rate variance by retarding growth.