The feeding of ruminant animals must be adequate at the different stages of growth to provide the necessary nutrients to make efficient use of the animal's abilities, and if the nutritional factors do not adjust to the animal's requirements, there will be a change in the growth curve of the different tissues. According to Lawrence and Fowler (2002), the bovine, like many animals, presents different stages during its growth and development, stages that are intimately related to changes in biological processes, mainly hormonal.
From agrotecnia taking into account that ruminant animals are a fundamental component in livestock systems, we decided to share with you some aspects related to the growth of cattle, based on a classification made by some specialists in the area, who mention that the growth of cattle is classified into accelerated growth, late growth and compensatory growth. Below, we describe each of them.
| Accelerated Growth |
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After the calves are weaned and are definitively separated from the mother According to Bravo (2005), they enter a stage of rapid growth, it is a fundamental stage where proper nutrition and nutrition is needed, therefore, poor nutrition can cause delays in the growth of the animal, this stage can be considered from when the animal is weaned until it reaches approximately 300 kilograms.
During this stage, the same author points out that the nutrients provided by grass, even good quality, may not be enough to cover the potential growth rates, especially in those animals of high genetic value. The grass will provide enough nutrients for average growth rates (600-700 gr/d) when it is managed efficiently with rest and occupation periods, adjustment of the animal load and application of agronomic practices, however, at this stage of growth it will be difficult to obtain productions above this level fed only with grasses.
To achieve weight gains above the levels between 800-1000 gr/d it is necessary to supply the animal with nutrients of adequate quality such as good percentages of protein, which are digested at the intestinal level, that is, they are not fermented in the rumen. According to Chicco, and Godoy (1987), the growing fattening animal needs protein to build muscle mass that is being formed, if this protein does not exist the muscle will not grow.
From the aforementioned, it can be inferred that, in ruminants at this stage of growth, focusing on feeding the rumen is the most economical strategy, however, even if the rumen works at full capacity fermenting tropical forages, it will not be enough to exceed the observed gains.
| Late Growth |
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As animals reach maturity according to Zamora (1985), their growth rate is decreasing, this phenomenon is known and inevitable that reflects the extent of adult body size and weight. Due to the simultaneous decrease in growth rate, animals demand fewer nutrients. In this way, animals at this stage are very likely not to need excellent quality and overpowering food as in the rapid growth stage.
Animals in the late growth stage begin to deposit less muscle and more fat in the body, so a greater part of the food will be used as a reserve in the form of fatty deposits. The reserves will increase more quickly if the animal is fed with more energy than required to cover the decreasing weight gain. This phenomenon is taken advantage of to fatten the animals for sale exhibition purposes, these animals that receive an excess of energy convert it into fat and deposited intramuscularly and subcutaneously, causing the desired effect.
| Compensatory Growth |
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This growth is known as an accelerated growth stage, faster than normal, which occurs after a stage of food restriction, growth that is observed when normal feeding conditions are restored. In practical terms, this behavior is observed in the dry season where animals reduce their growth and sometimes lose weight, however, during the rainy season, growth is excellent, reaching in weight, those animals that during the dry season sustained moderate weight gains through supplementation.
This phenomenon usually leads farmers to think that supplementation at critical times does not make sense and that it is even not profitable, however, the following aspects should be taken into account:
- Animals with severe weight losses or for prolonged periods will not be able to compensate for them in a compensatory growth stage.
- When the periods of restriction are too long, compensatory growth may not even occur.
Dear readers, this feature could be exploited in the meat industry, since animals can be kept on a restricted diet, for example, during the winter in prolonged periods of drought where food resources are scarcer and more expensive, you can also buy low-weight animals, at a lower price and be sure that a good final weight will be obtained if it is fed back later, properly. Of course, as the specialists mention, you can be sure only if you feed yourself again with resources of excellent nutritional quality.
| Bibliographic references |
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Lawrence, T. and Fowler, V. (2002). Growth of Farm Animals. CAB International. Wallingford, United Kingdom. 347 p.
Bravo, A. (2005). Weight gain in stable mestizo mautes fed with pseudostem and corm from the banana crop in the municipality of colón estado Zulia. Degree thesis National Experimental University South of the Lake, Zulia.
Chicco, C. and Godoy. S. (1987). Mineral supplementation of grazing beef cattle. In: D. Plasse and N. Peña de Borsotti (Eds.) III Workshop on Beef Cattle. Faculty of Veterinary Sciences. Central University of Venezuela. pp. 47- 103.
Zamora, A. (1985). Systems of breeding steers. Final report research contract. ICA. Havana.
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