COMPOSITION AND AMINO-ACID CONTENT OF CARCASS, SKIN AND FEATHERS OF THE GROWING GOSLING

Growth rate, food intake and utilization were determined for goslings (A. cireneus) from hatching to 7 wk of age. The relative weight of the carcass (body without feathers, skin or intestinal content) decreased from 0.83 of total body wt at hatching to 0.73 at 7 wk. The skin relative weight increased from 0.12 at hatching to 0.17 at 2 wk of age and subsequently remained constant. The weight of feathers increased from 0.034 of body wt at hatching to 0.08 at 7 wk. The fat of the carcass and skin increased during the 7 wk experimental period. The skin retained .apprx. 1/2 of the total body fat. While amino acid compositions of feathers and skin proteins were similar to data reported for other birds, carcass proteins were lower in methionine and lysine. [The nutritive requirements for protein and amino acids of the growing gosling are discussed.].