An animal physiologist designed a study to evaluate the effect of several forced molt regimens used by egg producers to bring hens back into egg production. Twenty-five hens were randomly selected to be used in the experiment. There are five stages in the regimen: S1-Premolt (control); S2-Fasting for 8 days; S3- 60 grams of bran per day for 10 days; S4- 80 grams of bran per day for 10 days; S5- Laying mash for 42 days. The objective was to follow various physiological responses associated with the pituitary function on the hens during the regimen to aid in explaining why the hens come back into egg production. One of the measurements was the serum T3 concentration in the pituitary gland. Five hens were randomly assigned to be sacrificed at the end of each of the five stages. The serum T3 measurements of the five hens sacrificed at the end of each stage of the regimen are given in the following table.

Treatment Serum T3 (ng/dl) x10-1 Premolt 94.09 90.45 99.38 73.56 74.39 Fasting 98.81 103.55 115.23 129.06 117.61 60 g Bran 197.18 207.31 177.50 226.05 222.74 80 g Bran 102.93 117.51 119.92 112.01 101.10 Laying Mash 83.14 89.59 87.76 96.43 82.94