Role of Nutrition in Growth of Cattle
Nutrition is directly linked to rate and composition of growth in several ways.
Available energy is used to meet the needs for maintenance, protein growth and fat deposition, primarily in that order.
Thus, composition of growth reflects levels of available substrates provided relative to maintenance and limits for protein growth, with additional energy usually deposited as fat.
In general, rates of protein deposition increase at decreasing rates and rates of fat deposition increase at increasing rates with rate of growth.
Consequently, percentage protein in growth decreases while percentage fat in growth increases with rate of growth.
Empty body and carcass composition reflects these pattern of tissue growth, and cattle growing rapidly though higher level of nutrition are fatter at subsequent points in growth and at slaughter.
The magnitude of nutritionally regulated changes in body composition at a given weight reflects animal priorities, rates of growth and length of time that animals are growing at respective rates.
Slower growth for extended periods of time invariably results in learner carcasses at any selected weight.
However, most cattle deposit some fat, even at slow rates of growth and the priorities for protein versus fat disposition at any rate of growth are established through genetic directives that are implemented through physiological mechanisms.
Physiological mechanism exist to allow retrieval of fat to provide energy for protein growth if sufficient stored fat is available from a previous phase of growth.
Important components of nutrition include the stage of growth versus nutritional schedule, level and sources – that is, forage versus grain and level relative to growth process priorities.
Role of Nutrition in Growth of Cattle
