Biological growth patterns to increase livestock meat productivity

Abstract

The article presents a study on steers’ biological growth patterns that are possible to be considered for increasing the meat productivity of steers. To enhance the live weight gain of Holstein steers, we used a variable feeding system that is based on the physiological characteristics of metabolism and takes into account growing periods and the nature of nutrient absorption by periods, corresponding to the S-shaped growth curve. Analyzing growth records of young cattle, he paid attention to some patterns of the live weight gain. These data showed that the live weight gain was uneven along the S-curve and subject to periodic fluctuations that were characterized by decreases and increases in growth; a period took 12 days, that is, the amplitude of the increase in growth made 12 days and then the decrease was also 12 days. We also divided the growth cycle into 2 periods, 12 days each. In the increase period, if the amount of feed was reduced by 20%, there was no decrease in average daily gain in steers, and vice versa, in the 12-day decrease period, a 20% increase in feed compensated for the low level of metabolism in the body with a stable rate of average daily gains. Therefore, similar amount of feed can help the traditional cattle breeding system increase the average daily gain by 8.5% and the carcass weight by 10.5% and reduce feed costs per 1 kg of gain by 7.1%.