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Short-term fluctuations in the live weight of identical twin cattle

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

C. S. Taylor
Affiliation:
ARC Animal Breeding Research Organisation, West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JQ
R. G. Griffiths
Affiliation:
ARC Animal Breeding Research Organisation, West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JQ
H. P. Donald
Affiliation:
ARC Animal Breeding Research Organisation, West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JQ
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Abstract

Two pairs of uniformly treated identical twins were weighed four times daily for 16 days. In addition, daily growth rate was analysed for 10 pairs of identical twins kept on high and low planes of nutrition over a 16-week period.

Identical twins fluctuated in body weight from hour to hour and day to day in a significantly more similar manner than did unrelated animals. The greater similarity found when all animals were uniformly treated still persisted when identical twins were placed on different planes of nutrition.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1978

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References

REFERENCES

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