Effect of force-feeding on thyroxine, testosterone, total body water, and biological half-life (t1/2) of (HOH)-H-3 in ducks and geese, under Egyptian conditions

Thyroxine hormone (T4) and triodothyroxine (T3) levels showed no definite trend by force-feeding. Plasma testosterone was, in general,lower in force-than in self-fed birds. The water turnover rate and biological half-life showed insignificant differences in ducks and geese with the exception of water turnover rate in geese which differed significantly (P<0.05) in serf-and force-fed groups. The increase in body weight by force-feeding was a result to the increase in both water retention and body solids. However, ducks showed higher mean value of total body water and lower mean value of total body solids than in geese.