Co-Authors:
Nitsan, Z., Agricultural Research Organization, The Volcani Center, P.0. Box 6, Bet Dagan, Israel
Ben-Avraham, G., Agricultural Research Organization, The Volcani Center, P.0. Box 6, Bet Dagan, Israel
Zoref, Z., Agricultural Research Organization, The Volcani Center, P.0. Box 6, Bet Dagan, Israel
Nir, I., The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, P.0. Box 12, Rehovot, Israel
Abstract:
Body weight and the weight of the digestive organs and activities of some digestive enzyames were determined from hatching to 23 d of age. 2. Relative daily growth rate peaked at 11 d of age (22% gain/d) and then decreased gradually. 3. The vitelline residue was decreased rapidly from 4.6 g at hatching to negligible values from 4 d of age. 4. Maximal allometric growth of the pancreas and small intestine was 4-fold and that of liver 2-fold greater than that of the body. 5. Activities (units/kg body weight) of the digestive enzymes measured in the pancreas and intestinal contents increased with age. In the pancreas maximal values were attained on day 8 for amylase and lipase and 11 for trypsin and chymotrypsin. In the small intestine maxima were attained on day 4 for lipase, 11 for trypsin and chymotrypsin and 17 for amylase. 6. The development of secretion of digestive enzymes in the post-hatched chick could be a limiting factor in digestion and subsequently in food intake and growth. © 1991, Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. All rights reserved.