The growth to maturity of lean and fat lines of broiler chickens given diets of different protein content: body composition, plasma lipoprotein concentration and initial egg production

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe proportions of abdominal fat and total body lipid and protein were measured up to 30 weeks in males and 21 weeks in females from lines of lean and fat broiler chickens given diets of different protein content. There was a constant relationship between the proportions of abdominal fat and body lipid independent of line, diet or age. Data on males showed effects of line and diet on body fatness at all ages up to 30 weeks. In females, line and diet had effects on body fatness during early growth but little effect on composition at 21 weeks. Plasma very low density lipoprotein concentration was higher in the fat line in both sexes at all ages. Egg production over the first few weeks of the laying period was much higher in lean line hens.