A generic model of growth, energy metabolism, and body composition for cattle and sheep.

A generic daily time-step model of animal growth and metabolism for cattle and sheep is described. It includes total BW as well as protein, water, and fat components, and also energy components associated with the growth of protein and fat, and activity costs. Protein decay is also incorporated, along with the energy costs of resynthesising degraded protein. Protein weight is taken to be the primary indicator of metabolic state, and fat is regarded as a potential source of metabolic energy for physiological processes such as the resynthesis of degraded protein. Normal weight is defined as maximum protein and the associated fat component so that if the BW of the animal exceeds the normal value, all excess weight is in the form of fat. It is assumed that the normal fat fraction increases from birth to maturity. There are relatively few parameters, all of which have a reasonable physiological interpretation, which helps simplify choosing parameters for different animal types and breeds. Simulations for growing and mature cattle and sheep in response to varying available ME are presented and comparisons with empirical curves reported in the literature for body composition are in excellent agreement.