Effect of the sex-linked dwarfing gene (dw) upon skeletal development of young broiler chicks.

The influence of the sex-linked dwarfing gene (dw) on growth and skeletal development in young male broiler chicks was investigated. Chickens that were homozygous (dw/dw) for the dwarfing gene had significantly lower BW and tibiotarsus lengths when compared with the heterozygous (Dw/dw) or normal (Dw/Dw) genotypes. All genotypes exhibited similar incidences of tibial dyschondroplasia. In contrast to several other types of dwarfism, there was no effect of the dw gene on the width of the epiphyseal growth plate or the proteoglycan content of this tissue.