Postnatal growth and organ development in the goose (Anser anser).

A hypothesis has been formulated stating that the rate at which growth proceeds is at least partly determined by the distribution of growth between different organs. In order to test the hypothesis a series of studies of organ growth has been undertaken in some birds with widely ranging growth rate factors. This study describes the postnatal growth and the pattern of organ development of the goose, a species with a high growth rate factor. The results show that the pattern of organ growth is characterized by an early development of the digestive organs and the liver and by a late development of the wings, pectorals and feathers. These results are in close agreement with the hypothesis.