Protein and Energy Utilization during Compensatory Growth in Beef Cattle

Abstract

COMPENSATORY growth has been observed and measured in many studies since Osborne and Mendel (1915, 1916) found that growth continued at an accelerated rate after a long period of restriction. Young cattle wintered on a low plane of nutrition make the highest summer range gains (Eckles and Swett, 1918; Nelson and Campbell, 1954; Joubert, 1954; Heinemann and Van Keuren, 1956; Bohman and Torell, 1956). The physiological reason for this compensatory growth has not been satisfactorily explained. Sheehy and Senior (1942) postulated that compensatory growth was due to the deposition of more protein and less fat during recovery. Quinby (1948), Ashworth (1969), Taylor (1959) and Osborne and Mendel (1916) have suggested that increased food intake during recovery was partially responsible for compensatory growth, however, Meyer and Clawson (1964) and Meyer et al. (1965) found that there was an increase in energy utilization independent of feed intake during compensatory growth. The purpose of the studies reported here was to determine if there is a simultaneous increase in feed intake and efficiency of protein and energy utilization during compensatory growth, and if the factors responsible occur during the first part or throughout the period of recovery. Copyright © 1972. American Society of Animal Science . Copyright 1972 by American Society of Animal Science.