Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production. 1995,
55: 157-160
Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production. 1995,
55: 157-160
A data base representing 207 examples of compensatory growth in the literature was used to identify factors explaining the variance in recovered liveweight, unrecovered liveweight and % recovery in a general least squares linear model. Sixty percent of the variance in unrecovered gain was associated with the severity of the restriction but the recovered liverweight gain and % recovery was associated with only variables of the recovery period (liverweight gain of unrestricted group, 28%; liveweight gain of restricted group, 38% and duration of recovery, 14%). This focuses attention on the greater importance of the recovery period than the restriction period. Average % recovery was only 37% with a mean liveweight gain of the recovering cattle of 0.95 kg/d over 150 day recovery period.
We argue on theoretical grounds and with evidence that high levels of liveweight gain during recovery will only be achieved when an intense restriction has been imposed on older cattle and the recovery period has been long and at a high rate of liveweight gain.
Keywords: NZSAPAB; cattle; growth; compensatory growth; maturity
