Compensatory Growth in Yearling Beef Cattle
G.H. Scales and K.H.C. Lewis
Tara Hills High Country Research Station, Omarama
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Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production. 1971, 31: 51-61
In three experiments, the restriction of an ad libitum
diet of lucerne hay in winter led to significantly lower rates of
liveweight gain in weaner beef calves fed at estimated maintenance and
sub-maintenance levels. In post-winter periods of 214 to 238 days, when
grazing improved clover-tussock pasture, winter restricted calves had
significantly higher rates of liveweight gain than ad libitum fed
calves. Compensatory growth reduced the winter liveweight deficit by a
maximum of 65.5% and a minimum of 15.3% in this time. Carcass
composition was unaffected by winter restriction when the cattle were
slaughtered at 19 months of age. It was not possible to show that the
economy of meat production consistently favoured winter restricted
groups and the practical value of exploiting compensatory growth is
uncertain.
Keywords: NZSAPAB;
Last Updated 24-08-2000
