The effect of plane of nutrition on the carcasses of pigs and lambs when variations in fat content are excluded

Abstract

1. From a review of the literature it has been shown that there are two opposing views regarding the best method of interpreting growth data, which arise from conflicting opinions as to the role of fat deposition in the growth of the animal.2. Data of McMeekan and Palsson and Verges have been re-analysed and their own results are compared with results obtained when the effects of variation in fat content are eliminated.3. No evidence has been found of any effect of plane of nutrition on the total weights of bone and muscle relative to the weight of bone plus muscle together.4. The weight of bone plus muscle in the head and neck was increased relative to the total weight of bone plus muscle during periods of restricted nutrition. Apart from this there was no clear evidence of a relationship between the order of maturity of the joints and their relative retardation of development.5. Huxley's allometry equation was found appropriate for standardising the measurements, and the exponent was taken as a numerical expression of the relative maturity of each tissue or part.