Author
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Mitchell, Alva |
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Submitted to: Journal of Nutrition
Publication Type: Review Article Publication Acceptance Date: 12/11/2006 Publication Date: 2/26/2007 Citation: Mitchell, A.D. 2007. Impact of research with cattle, pigs and sheep on nutrition concepts: Body composition and growth. Journal of Nutrition. 137(3):711-714. Interpretive Summary: Technical Abstract: Because of their economic importance, the growth and body composition of pigs, cattle and sheep (referred to collectively as meat animals) have been studied extensively. Over the years, important compositional concepts have been defined and valuable data gathered by those interested in the growth and development of meat animals. With a common interest developing methods for in vivo body composition analysis, information based on detailed dissection and chemical analysis of meat animals has been available for validating methods of human body composition analysis. Studies of nutritional, pharmacological and genetic factors affecting the growth and composition of meat animals have provided important information relevant to the growth and composition of humans. In addition, the pig, because of its physiological and genetic similarities to man has served as an excellent animal model for biomedical research. Studies of the body composition of meat animals have focused primarily on those changes that occur during the growth of the animal up to "market weight", the point at which they are utilized for meat. Also of concern are changes that occur during pregnancy and lactation. However, since meat animals are not normally kept beyond their productive years, changes that occur as the result of aging have received little attention. |
