Showing papers on "Compensatory growth (organism) published in 1976"

Relationship between live weight, age and dry-matter intake for beef cattle after different levels of food restriction

Abstract: Five groups of 24 Aberdeen Angus steers, initially 8 months old and 185 kg in weight were subjected to varying degrees of restriction of energy intake, by feeding them on diets containing 1·45 to 2·85 Meal metabolizable energy (ME)/kg dry matter (DM) for 16 weeks. During the realimentation period that followed, all animals were fed ad libitum on the diet containing 2·85 Meal ME/kg DM. When realimentation began the feed consumption of all animals, which had been markedly different, rapidly became similar. When compared at equal live weight the restricted animals had higher intakes than the controls; at an equal age, however, feed intakes were practically the same. This led us to discard compensatory feed intake as a possible explanation for compensatory growth. Age explained 65% of the variability in feed intake, live weight explained 43% and both parameters jointly explained 73%. It is concluded that in restricted and realimented animals, age is a better predictor of feed intake than live weight. Compensatory growth is attributed to a lower maintenance requirement in restricted animals because of their lower live weight at the beginning of the realimentation period.

The effect of compensatory growth in sheep on empty body weight, carcass weight and the weights of some offals

Abstract: Summary The effects on the body composition of Corriedale wethers of weight loss, compensatory gain and constant body weight are described. Three groups of sheep were grown from 35–63 kg by different paths. The first grew continuously (fed ad libitum). The second and third groups lost 20% and 28% of body weight (restricted intake), respectively, from 48 kg and were then fed ad libitum until they reached 63 kg. Pairs of animals were slaughtered at intervals in each group. A fourth group of sheep was maintained at 48 kg. Analyses of covariance comparing regression equations were used to determine differences in body composition between the first three groups. The compensatory growth rates of both groups which had lost weight were 1·5–2 times those during continuous growth. These increases were associated with an increased gut content of these animals and a concomitant reduction in the proportion of empty body weight (EBW) and carcass weight (CW) in t he full body weight (FBW). Thus, the apparent dressing percentage (CW/FBW x 100) was reduced by 2% during compensatory growth. The carcass length was not reduced during weight loss and its growth in relation to the CW was not affected by treatment. Thus compensatory growth animals had longer carcasses. Similar increases in gut contents and carcass length were found for animals maintained at constant body weight. During developmental growth the proportions of the external offals, organs and gut tissue decreased in relation to the EBW; notable exceptions were the large intestine and caul fat where the proportions remained constant and increased, respectively. The growth of the CW, lungs, large intestine and head were not reversed during weight loss whilst the liver, heart, hide and gut tissues (except the large intestine) all lost more weight during weight loss than they had gained during the growth phase. The proportions of these latter components were increased in relation to the EBW during the ensuing compensatory growth. In general, the composition of animals held at constant body weight was similar to that of animals experiencing compensatory growth at the same weight and age.

Compensatory Growth: A New Production Concept?

Abstract: Compensatory growth or compensatory gains may be described as an increased growth rate in one time period as a direct result of a growth restriction imposed during an earlier time period. These growth restrictions could be the result of disease, environmental influences, a lack of adequate nutrition or an combination of these factors. Some animals possess compensatory growth capabilities. This paper reviews the results of a series of experimental trials designed to determine the effects of feeding diets restricted in protein from 10 days to 8 weeks of age on subsequent rate of growth, feed utilization and carcass characteristics of large-type market turkeys and the economic implication that result from following a restricted protein feeding program. These studies suggest that it may be beneficial to feed market turkeys for less than maximum growth from an economic standpoint, particularly during early stages of growth. But these studies also suggest top-notch management is very essential in achieving any degree of success when feeding for compensatory gains.