Applications of a multiphasic growth function to body composition in pigs.
A multiphasic growth function was used to relate growth of body components to phases of total growth for pigs. Each phase of growth was characterized by asymptotic weight, age at maximum gain, and duration. Age at maximum gain and duration were expressed as a ratio and assumed constant for all phases. One application involved weights of total DM predicted directly with a diphasic function and indirectly with monophasic functions of fat-free DM and fat. Another involved weights of carcass side predicted directly with a diphasic function and indirectly with monophasic functions of offal + muscle + bone and fat + skin. Components were grouped on age at maximum gain. There was good agreement for asymptotic weight between body components and phases, and general agreement for age at maximum gain and for duration, except for carcass weights. A multiphasic growth function may provide a way to examine fat-adjusted weight in living animals because growth of fat appears as a late phase in a multiphasic description of total body growth.
Koops
W J
WJ
Dept. of Anim. Breed, Wageningen Agricultural University, The Netherlands.
Grossman
M
M
D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D001823:Body Composition; D008433:Mathematics; D008460:Meat / Q000592:standards; D013552:Swine / Q000254:growth & development*; D015430:Weight Gain