Animal Growth & Development

What is growth defined as?

Increase in body weight until maturity is reached

What is the true definition of growth?

growth that involves an increase in structural tissue

• excludes fat as storage tissue

What is development?

directive coordination of all diverse processes until maturity is reached

What does development include?

growth, cellular differentiation, changes in body shape which is controlled by genetic makeup of animal

what is maturity?

state of being grown/development

What is maturity in animal production?

sexual and compositional maturity

What is Physiological age?

stages of development as animal grows from conception to maturity

• puberty

What is Hyperplasia?

increase in # of cells

What is hypertrophy ?

increase in cell size

What is efficiency of growth/production?

units per unit of feed (lbs or kg)