Acta Agriculturae Zhejiangensis ›› 2022, Vol. 34 ›› Issue (1): 50-59.DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1004-1524.2022.01.07

• Animal Science • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Growth curve fitting and correlation analysis of body weight and body measurements in Angus cattle

FENG Xiaofang1(), JIANG Qiufei2, FENG Yuan2, WANG Yu2, CHEN Yafei1, MU Tong1, LI Ming3, ZHOU Zihang1, CAI Zhengyun1, ZHANG Juan1, GU Yaling1,*()   

  1. 1. Agricultural College, Ningxia University, Yinchuan 750021, China
    2. Animal Husbandry Extension Station,Yinchuan 750001, China
    3. Jiucai Township Haiyuan County People’s Government, Haiyuan 755200,Ningxia, China
  • Received:2021-05-18 Online:2022-01-25 Published:2022-02-05
  • Contact: GU Yaling

Abstract:

The research was performed on Angus cattle to understand their growth and development patterns, and make relevant predictions to guide feeding management and improve breed selection. Logistic, Gompertz, and Von Bertalanffy models were used to fit the growth curves for weight and body size traits in Angus cattle from 0 to 18 months of age, and to choose the best growth curve model. The model was then applied to calculate relative growth (R) and absolute growth (G) of weight and body size, and simple correlation analysis was performed for each trait. The results showed that Von Bertalanffy model was the best fit for weight and body size traits, and the model estimated the inflection point of weight growth as (8.33 months of age, 245.13 kg). Growth pattern of each trait was analyzed, and it was found that the growing intensity of weight and body size traits decreased gradually with the increase of monthly age, and growth rate of weight reached the maximum from 0 to 10 months of age then decreased gradually. The correlation analysis among the traits showed a strong positive correlation between body weight and body size traits (P<0.01), indicating a positive selection relationship between body weight and body size traits. The above results demonstrated the advantages of early maturity and high early growth intensity and weight gain rate of Angus cattle.

Key words: Angus cattle, growth curve, relative growth, absolute growth, correlation analysis

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