THE EFFECT OF CARBIMAZOLE ON GROWTH AND SEXUAL MATURITY IN THE PULLET

¹ Department of Animal Production, King Saud University, P.O. Box 1482, Burydah, Qassim, Saudi Arabia
² Department of Agriculture and Horticulture, University of Reading, Earley Gate, Reading RG6 2AT

Carbimazole (100 mg/kg diet) was fed to pullets from 8 to 12 or from 12 to 16 weeks of age. Pullets fed carbimazole from 8 to 12 weeks of age matured about 12 d earlier and produced more eggs between 17 and 22 weeks of age. Their body weights and feed intake were significantly lower than those of normal birds. Feeding carbimazole from 12 to 16 weeks of age had no significant effect on the birds except during the course of treatment where their feed consumption was less than that of the controls.