Parks (1982) analyzed a large number of sets of experimental growth and feeding data
for cattle and domestic animals on various diets and under various feeding regimes, and
looked for deterministic elements in animal feeding and growth patterns that could form
the basis of a testable theory. He integrated these studies into a mathematical theory of
feeding and growth, allowing to predict animal growth under different feeding regimes.
The theory is related to the laws of energy balance. Parks’ theory is sufficiently robust
to be used in studies on the diet and nutrition of other growing animals. He illustrated
the applicability of his theory in a long-term experiment on two genotypes of chicken
and discussed the implications of the theory in genetic experimental work on bending
the growth curves of mice and chicken by selection techniques and in the economics of
intensive animal productions.