Exam 1 Flashcards
Define Growth
An increase in size by the animal
Define hyperplasia
An increase in cell numbers
Define hypertrophy
An increase in cell size
Define compensatory growth
Rate of growth significantly increase after a prolonged feed restriction
Name the 4 phases of a growth curve in order
- Lag phase
- Accelerating phase
- Decelerating phase
- Plateau phase
List 2 factors that can affect the growth curve
- Genetics
- Nutrition
In 3 sentences, describe the mechanism of how compensatory growth happens
Feed restriction causes digestive organs to shrink in size. When organs shrink, maintenance energy requirements are decreased. This decrease results in greater feed efficiency
Draw the growth curve and the curve for compensatory growth
Draw and label the growth curves for bone, muscle, and fat tissue
What is considered the gold standard for estimating body composition of cattle?
Comparative slaughter
Describe the method of how comparative slaughter is done in 3 sentences
A group of similar animals are slaughtered together at different stages of growth curve to estimate changes in body composition. Each carcass is put in a grinder and made into a paste. The paste is sent to a lab for nutrient analysis.
Describe the method of how carcass dissection is done in 1 sentence
Dead animal carcass is cut with a butcher knife to separate bone, muscle, and fat tissue
Write one disadvantage of the carcass dissection method
Fails to measure internal marbling fat
Describe how the sawdust method is done in 2 sentences
Animal carcass is frozen and a saw is used on frozen carcass. Sawdust is then collected and subjected to lab procedures for nutrient analysis
In 3 sentences, describe how DEXA estimates body composition
The animal is exposed to x-rays at 2 different wavelengths. Each tissue in body absorbs radiation differently. The amount absorbed by different tissues is used in math formulas that estimate % of each tissue.
Write 1 advantage of the DEXA method
The animal is alive and multiple measurements can be taken along growth curve
Write 1 advantage and 1 disadvantage of using CT scans to estimate body composition
+ ~ most accurate
- ~ expensive equipment
In 2 sentences, explain how K-40 is used to estimate body composition
It is a form of K that is a radioactive isotype which makes it less common. It is soluble in water so the more muscle you have, the higher the K-40
In 2 sentences, explain how the Deuterium dilution technique is used to estimate body composition
A known amount of Deuterium is injected into the blood. After 24 hours, the amount of Deuterium is measured in blood.
More muscle = less deuterium
In 2 sentences, explain how electrical conductivity can be used to estimate body composition
An electrical current is put on the animal and conduction of electricity by body is measured. Animals with more muscle conduct more electricity