Calcium and Phosphorus in the Development of the Turkey Embryo

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
A study was made of 1.—embryonic growth as measured by wet weight, dry weight and ash content; 2.—per cent of moisture; 3.—growth cycles; 4.—calcium and phosphorus content of the Bronze turkey embryo. The daily increase in wet weight, dry weight, and ash content was very small until the twelfth day, after which time increments of growth noticeably increase. The increase in calcium and phosphorus content was relatively slow until the seventeenth day. The calcium-phosphorus ratio was less than 1.0 until the nineteenth day of incubation, after which time it exceeded 1.0. Turkey embryo growth is divided into three distinct phases or cycles, with definite periods of retardation between the ninth and tenth and between the nineteenth and twentieth days. These periods of retardation were also noted in the calcium and phosphorus content of the embryo. Certain correlations between these periods of retardation and the change in the type of food metabolized are suggested. It is suggested that the calcium content of the embryo may be used as a measure of growth provided the yolk material drawn into the body cavity is removed before analysis.
Keywords

This publication has 1 reference indexed in Scilit: