Effects of recombinant chicken growth hormone in randombred meat-type chickens

Recombinant chicken growth hormone (rcGH) was administered subcutaneously twice daily to male and female Athens-Canadian randombred meat-type chickens between 2 and 14 days posthatch. Treatment groups consisted of non-injected controls, saline-injected controls, and those injected with either 50 or 250 micrograms/kg rcGH per injection. Body weight, body weight gain, feed consumption, and feed efficiency were determined. Body weight or body weight gain was not significantly affected by rcGH through 28 d. Feed consumption and efficiency were not significantly affected by treatment through 21 d. It was concluded that rcGH failed to demonstrate any significant growth-promoting effects in young, slow-growing randombred chickens.