EPA Small pen tests. II. effects of pen and group sizes, sex combinations, and feeding levels on bobwhite body weight and fat content

Conclusions

Weight gains by bobwhites during simulated EPA small pen tests showed that a diet providing 140% of the existence energy requirement of bobwhites was too much and that a diet providing only existence energy needs might be adequate for males or females in 4 X 5-ft pens. Carcasses of males had less ether-extractable fat than carcasses of females. Egg laying by female bobwhites added variability to the body weight and body fat data, and made it difficult to interpret. Because of high fat levels in female bobwhites and the periodic elimination of fat via egg production, female bobwhites may not be appropriate experimental animals for EPA small pen tests involving fat-soluble pesticides. Data from this study and our earlier one (Morrow et al. 1980) support the need to develop standardized experimental conditions for EPA small pen tests before they are used to evaluate the hazards to wildlife of various pesticidal compounds.