Postnatal growth and organ development in the quail (Coturnix coturnix Japonica).

In a previous study it has been shown that the pattern of organ growth of the goose, a species with a high growth rate factor, is characterized by a rapid early development of the digestive organs and the liver. The present study describes the postnatal growth and the pattern of organ development of the quail, a species with a low growth rate factor. The results show that the pattern of organ growth is characterized by a rapid early development of the wings, pectorals and feathers. These results support the hypothesis that the rate of which growth proceeds is at least partly determined by the distribution of growth between different organs.