Body composition in lambs and young sheep and its prediction in vivo from tritiated water space and body weight

1970 ◽  
Vol 74 (2) ◽  
pp. 357-362 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. W. Searle

SUMMARYTritiated water (TOH) space was determined in sixty-one sheep of known age (3 days to 18 months). Representative samples of the minced carcass were subsequently analysed to determine body composition (water, fat, protein, ash and energy). The regressions of the weight of the various body components on TOH space and body weight reported here gave equations suitable for prediction. These were similar to equations derived from published results for adults. Combining data on young sheep and adults gave broadly based equations that could be used to predict the body composition of healthy sheep of all ages from 3 days to adults.

1970 ◽  
Vol 75 (3) ◽  
pp. 497-500 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. W. Searle

SUMMARYThe body composition of parasite-infected sheep and of healthy sheep of various body weights and breeding was predicted from tritiated water (TOH) space and body weight using previously published regression equations. Results agreed well with body composition determined by analysis of the minced carcass though a small bias existed in some groups. It is concluded that the equations have a general application to the prediction of body composition in sheep.


1968 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 267 ◽  
Author(s):  
BA Panaretto

Correlations are described between tritiated water space, total body water, fat, and protein in sheep subjected to 18–21 hr of fasting. These provide a system for estimating the body composition of living ruminants.


1975 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 355 ◽  
Author(s):  
TW Searle ◽  
NMcC Graham

Wether sheep (4 months old) were held at 20 kg liveweight by restricted feeding for either 4 or 6 months and then fed ad libitum. Body composition (total water, fat and protein) was estimated monthly from tritiated water (TOH) space measured in vivo, and on three occasions representative animals were slaughtered, minced and analysed. Composition at any given body weight was compared with that previously determined for animals grown without restriction (controls). Sheep slaughtered at the end of the period of weight stasis contained less protein and more water than the controls but contained a similar weight of fat. Previously derived prediction equations estimated water correctly from TOH space in these undernourished sheep, but protein was overestimated by 0.38 kg (17% of the mean) and fat was underestimated by 0.19 kg (10% of the mean). The body composition of animals slaughtered after partial or complete recovery of weight for age was normal for their weight and predictions were accurate. The sequential estimates of composition indicated that although the relationship between fat and weight differed between individuals, at any given body weight above 32 kg compensating animals and controls had a similar composition. *Part I, Aust. J. Agric. Res., 26: 343 (1975).


2011 ◽  
Vol 40 (4) ◽  
pp. 912-921 ◽  
Author(s):  
N.F. Sant´Ana ◽  
C.A.A. Fontes ◽  
R.S.T. Silva ◽  
C.S. Garcia ◽  
R.A.M. Vieira ◽  
...  

The objective of this work was to evaluate body composition and net requirements of protein and energy for weight gain of Nellore and crossbred F1 Limousin-Nellore steers finished on Mombasa grass pastures. Mombasa grass (Panicum maximum) pastures were managed under intermitent stocking during the rainy season, with a forage offer of 8% of the body weight (BW) based on the dry matter of green leaves. Twenty-four steers were used: 12 were Nellore (386 kg SBW) and 12 were F1 Limousin-Nellore (397 kg SBW). Changes in body composition in a 104-day experimental period were evaluated according to the comparative slaughter method. After slaughter, all body components were weighed and representative samples of carcass (HH section) and non-carcass tissues were collected, processed and chemically analyzed to determine body contents of protein, fat and energy in each animal. Linearized allometric equations were fitted to describe the pattern of growth of body components as a function of empty body weight of the animals. The obtained equations were derived to predict net requirements of protein and energy for weight gain. There were no differences between Nellore and crossbreed steers regarding to protein deposition. Nellore animals tended to a greater deposition of energy on weight compared to crossbred animals. It is possible to obtain well finished carcass in Nellore and crossbred steers with a greater weight on tropical pastures with an adequate supply of leaves.


1963 ◽  
Vol 14 (6) ◽  
pp. 944 ◽  
Author(s):  
BA Panaretto

Two methods for predicting the body composition of living goats from the tritiated water spaces derived in them were proposed previously from results obtained with 11 goats. The relation of tritiated water spaces to body composition has been studied in an addltlonal 10 goats and 9 sheep, and these results together with those previousl y published have yielded a more precise method for calculating the body composition of living ruminants in terms of water, fat, protein, and ash.


1976 ◽  
Vol 86 (3) ◽  
pp. 483-493 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. W. Searle ◽  
D. A. Griffiths

SummaryThirty-four (13♂, 21♀) entire cross-bred lambs were suckled on reconstituted, spray-dried cows' milk from 2 days of age for varying periods of time up to 18 weeks before being weaned on to solid food or slaughtered to determine chemical composition. The body composition of each sheep (water, fat, protein, energy) was also estimated from the tritiated water (TOH) space at 3-weekly intervals during milk feeding, at intervals of 5–8 weeks subsequently and at slaughter. Comparison between. TOH estimates and whole body analysis confirmed the accuracy of the previously-derived prediction equations.The relationship between each of the various body components and body weight for individual sheep during milk feeding was described by a ‘bent’ (non-rectangular) hyperbola. There were no substantial differences between animals in either the position or slope of the lower asymptote nor in the slope of the upper asymptote. There were, however, substantial differences in the point of intersection of the two asymptotes both within and between sexes. The mean intersection points for males and females were 17·7 and 14·4 kg body weight respectively.Sheep weaned at body weights of 11–16 kg subsequently followed the previously defined pattern of growth. Weaning at higher body weights (21–34 kg, body fat not less than 5·5 kg) resulted initially in both fat and/or body weight loss. In the final fattening phase of growth early- and late-weaned sheep of the same sex had similar body composition but females were fatter than males.


1993 ◽  
Vol 121 (3) ◽  
pp. 399-408 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. W. Benjamin ◽  
R. Koenig ◽  
K. Becker

SUMMARYTen young crossbred Finnish Landrace sheep and eleven young crossbred Damascus goats with liveweights ranging from 14 to 50 kg and of different ages and body condition, were used to develop equations to predict the body composition (chemical) in the intact body and dressed carcass of young sheep and goats. After injection with tritiated water, the animals were slaughtered and their carcasses partitioned into anatomical body components which were each analysed for chemical composition (water, fat, protein, ash) and energy content. From these components, the energy content and chemical composition of the intact bodies were calculated by summation. Apart from organ and gut fat, the two species had a similar body component composition. Goat intact bodies were more hydrated and had less fat, but were similar to sheep in protein and ash content. The energy concentration in their body components was also similar, but goats had a lower energy concentration in their intact bodies. Total body water, energy content and dressed carcass were predicted accurately by the derived equations, but fat, protein and ash were predicted with less precision.


1964 ◽  
Vol 15 (5) ◽  
pp. 771 ◽  
Author(s):  
BA Panaretto

Ten Border Leicester x Merino ewes were divided into two groups on the basis of a initial calculation of their body composition. Group 1 comprised a group of six moderately fat ewes (fat content < 25% body weight), and group 2 four very fat ewes (fat content >40% body weight). The ewes were undernourished by feeding progressively diminishing quantities of a mixture of lucerne chaff and oats (1:1) until group 1 had lost 38.7 and group 2 33.7% of their initial weight in 150–200 days. Feed intakes and wool growth of the sheep were recorded and calculations were made of the body composition in terms of total body water, fat, protein, and ash as undernutrition progressed. Thiocyanate spaces, haematocrit values, and plasma, blood, and red cell volumes were also measured. Generally the ewes in group 1 exhibited a starvation syndrome which was characterized by the gradual depletion of the fat and protein reserves of the body until fat reserves had been almost completely used. Thiocyanate spaces in these ewes expanded relative to body weight, and the circulatory parameters showed a progressive shrinkage of the red cell volume while plasma volume was maintained. The ewes in group 2 differed markedly in their reaction to undernutrition in that three out of the four passed, after a time, into a phase of inappetence and died while still in a very fat condition.


1972 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 339 ◽  
Author(s):  
TW Searle ◽  
NM Graham

Merino and halfbred weaner sheep were fed ad libitum for 6 months and food intake recorded; some animals of each breed were given a roughage-concentrate mixture and others were given a wholly roughage diet. The chemical composition of the body was determined from time to time. The halfbred animals ate more of each diet and grew faster than the Mennos. The Merinos became progressively fatter, weight for weight, than the halfbreds; fatness was not affected by diet per se. There was no detectable difference between the breeds in energetic efficiency. Prediction of the energy content of the body from tritiated water space measured in vivo gave similar results to carcass analysis.


2006 ◽  
Vol 49 (5) ◽  
pp. 462-476 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. M. Scholz ◽  
M. Förster

Abstract. Title of the paper: Accuracy of dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) for the determination of the body composition of pigs in vivo New methods for the measurement of the body composition in vivo (or post mortem) like DXA need to be evaluated before routine use in livestock research or performance testing. Two body weight groups of pigs I) 30–50 kg (n=61) and II) 70–90 kg (n=62) were studied in this analysis. The whole bodies of the pigs were analyzed by a GE Lunar DPX-IQ scanner in vivo for the amount and percentage of fat, lean tissue, bone mineral, and the bone mineral density as well. Three days later, pigs were slaughtered and after a 24 h cooling period, the reference parts (shoulder, loin, side, and ham) of the left carcass half were dissected into lean meat, fat, bone, tendons, connective tissue and skin according to the EU reference method. Generally, DXA variables explained a high proportion of variation (R²>0.8; √MSE=70–784 g) in the tissue masses of the reference parts (fat, muscle, bone) in both weight groups. The fat percentage of the reference parts and the DXA whole body results (in vivo) showed a very high relationship with a maximum R²=0.82 (√MSE=1.47%) for group II. Slightly lower was the relationship between the lean meat content (%) of the reference parts and DXA results in vivo (R2=0.72; √MSE=1.75) for group II. The bone percentage was predicted with R²=0.3 (√MSE=0.64), caused by the very different analysis methods. Generally, DXA is a suitable method for growth studies in the above body weight range. In order to predict the percentage of muscle (lean meat) or fat tissue accurately by DXA, pigs should weigh >50 kg, since the soft tissue percentages of group I resulted in R²≤0.38 (√MSE≤2.55).


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