Growth, feed efficiency and body composition of transgenic mice expressing a sheep metallothionein 1a-sheep growth hormone fusion gene

Abstract Growth feed efficiency and body composition were studied in male mice possessing a sheep metallothionein 1a-sheep growth hormone transgene (oMT1a-oGH). The transgene was activated at weaning (21 d) by 25 mM zinc sulfate provided in drinking water. Body weight and feed intake were measured at weekly intervals until 70 d. Transgenic males gained 53.3% more weight than controls during the test period (P