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An analysis of cattle live-weight changes on tropical grass pasture during the dry and early wet seasons in northern australia: 1. The nature of weight changes

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

R. W. McLean ,
R. L. McCown ,
D. A. Little ,
W. H. Winter  and
R. A. Dance
R. W. McLean
Affiliation:
C.S.I.R.O. Division of Tropical Crops and Pastures, Cunningham Laboratory, St Lucia, Queensland 4067, Australia
R. L. McCown
Affiliation:
C.S.I.R.O. Division of Tropical Crops and Pastures, Davies Laboratory, P.M.B. P.O. Aitkenvale, Townsville, Queensland 4814, Australia
D. A. Little
Affiliation:
C.S.I.R.O. Division of Tropical Crops and Pastures, Cunningham Laboratory, St Lucia, Queensland 4067, Australia
W. H. Winter
Affiliation:
C.S.I.R.O. Division of Tropical Crops and Pastures, Darwin Laboratory, Darwin, Northern Territory 5789, Australia
R. A. Dance
Affiliation:
Northern Territory Department of Primary Production, Katherine, Northern Territory 5780, Australia
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Summary

Studies were conducted to elucidate the nature and cause of the drastic losses of live weight of cattle grazing buffel grass pastures after first rains at the end of the dry season in northern Australia. This paper examines trends in weight and body composition during the dry and early wet seasons; it shows that although most of the loss in fasted live weight occurred just after first rain, most of the loss of body solids, mainly fat, had already occurred by this time. Losses of body solids in the dry season were not fully reflected in live-weight losses because of increases in total body water and in gut ‘fill’. The greatly accelerated weight loss in the period following first rain appears to have been due mainly to a large reduction in gut contents. Empty-body weight actually increased during this period owing to increases in tissue water. Continuation of this trend in tissue water into the early wet season resulted in the rate of live-weight gain greatly exceeding that of body solids.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 101 , Issue 1 , August 1983 , pp. 17 - 24
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1983

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