We talk about growth in animal production because the animal has to grow before it is ready for consumption.
Let's take 3 definitions of growth viz;
1. Growth can be defined as the correlated increase in the mass of the body at a definite interval of time in a way characteristics of the species.
2. It can also be defined as the increase in new biochemical units brought about by cell division and cell enlargement through the incorporation of materials from the environment
3. True growth also is an increase in the amount of tissues such as bones, muscles and internal organs.
Growth and Development
Animal development refers to the alterations in the forms of the animal from changes in the rate of increase of individual component of the body. Or it refers to the change in the conformation and functions of parts of the animal.
Development comes as a result of growth, that is to say development is a consequent of growth.
Growth of farm animals maybe grouped into two parts;
a. Prenatal growth
Prenatal growth occurs when the individual is still developing starting from fertilization up to parturition
Prenatal growth is also known as growth in-utero and the series of changes that occur from fertilization to zygote from single cell resulting in an individual suitable for an external growth.
b. Postnatal growth
This is growth immediately after parturition.
It also refers to series of changes in the form,size and shape of the animal. ( changes in the conformation of the animal). And these changes occur because of growth at different rate in different places of the animal body.
Next topic:
Stages of growth...
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