Growth and Carcass Composition in Broiler-Type Chickens Following Passive Immunization of Insulin-Like Growth Factor-2 (IGF-2) Between 2 and 4 Weeks of Age

Abstract Ten broiler-type chickens at 2 weeks of age were injected daily with 0.5 ml of normal sheep serum while 10 others were similarly injected with 0.5 ml of a sheep anti-IGF-2 serum. Immunization with anti-IGF-2 serum had no significant effect upon body weight gain, on carcass composition, on appetite or food conversion. Liver weight was significantly increased ( P P 3 concentrations were significantly affected by immunization against IGF-2. These results suggest that circulating IGF-2 is not a major regulator of overall somatic growth in chickens, but may have an effect on muscle and fat deposition.