J. Anim Sci.
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Velazco, J.
Right arrow Articles by Clarenburg, R.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Velazco, J.
Right arrow Articles by Clarenburg, R.

Journal of Animal Science, Vol 75, Issue 1 139-147, Copyright © 1997 by American Society of Animal Science

JOURNAL ARTICLE

The use of urea dilution for estimation of carcass composition of Holstein steers at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months of age

J. Velazco, J. L. Morrill, D. H. Kropf, R. T. Brandt Jr, D. L. Harmon, R. L. Preston and R. Clarenburg
Kansas State University, Manhattan 66506-1600, USA.

Every 3 mo for a 2-yr period, two weaned Holstein steer calves (94.5 kg) were randomly assigned to each of four slaughter age groups (3, 6, 9, and 12 mo). Urea dilution was performed before slaughter, and urea space (US) was calculated as total volume and as a percentage of body weight (BW) and empty body weight (EBW). The relationships between US (kg, % EBW and % BW), BW, and EBW and carcass soft tissue composition (protein, fat, moisture, and ash) were studied. One- and two-pool models were fitted using the urea dilution data and the coefficients of those equations (zero time, A + B), and the intercepts of compartments A and B were used to estimate body volume. Body weight and EBW effectively predicted the amount of water, fat, and protein in the carcass soft tissue. Equations expressed in kilograms were more accurate than those expressed as percentages. Urea space overestimated body water, probably because of the fast rate of urea disappearance in plasma. Correlation coefficients between US and carcass soft tissue water (kg) based on the pooled data ranged from .74 at 6 min to .48 at 42 min after infusion. The biexponential models coefficients explained more of the variation of carcass soft tissue composition than US; correlation coefficients using volume B and the soft tissue composition (in kg) with pooled data were .78 (water), .68 (fat), .69 (ash), and .76 (protein). The relationships between A and soft tissue composition were weaker (water .59, fat .51, ash .58 and protein .59). The highest correlation coefficients were obtained when A + B was used for water, fat, ash, and protein (.83, .70, .74 and .81, respectively). Equations combining BW, EBW, and two-model coefficients (A, B, A + B) explained much of the variation of soft tissue composition. No significant benefit was found in using the urea space at various times after infusion over BW or EBW alone to estimate carcass soft tissue composition in Holstein steers.


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 J DAIRY SCIHome page
R. E. Agnew, T. Yan, W. J. McCaughey, J. D. McEvoy, D. C. Patterson, M. G. Porter, and R. W. J. Steen
Relationships Between Urea Dilution Measurements and Body Weight and Composition of Lactating Dairy Cows
J Dairy Sci, July 1, 2005; 88(7): 2476 - 2486.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Copyright © 1997 by the American Society of Animal Science.