School of Agriculture, Food and Ecosystem Sciences - Theses
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ItemBody composition of swamp buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) : a study of developmental growth and of sex differences( 1978)A review has been made of developmental growth and of genetic effects on the body composition of some farm animals. Relationships between chest girth and body weight were studied using sets of data collected in Indonesia from 365 male and 404 female swamp buffalo, each classified to age as having 0, 2-6 and 8 permanent incisors. Linear regressions by which body weight may be predicted from chest girth are presented for each sex-age class. A body composition study, also carried out in Indonesia, was conducted using 12 buffalo bulls and 13 buffalo cows, comprising FBK (Fasted Body Weight; no feed or water for 14 h before slaughter) from 190 to 498 kg or EBW (Empty Body Weight; F minus weight of digests and bladder content) from 158 to 379 kg. Data on HCW (Hot Carcass Weight), HSW (Hot Side Weight), weights of offal components, SMW (Side Muscle Weight) , SBW (Side Bone Weight) , SFW (Side Fat Weight) , SCIW (Side Connective Tissue Weight), weights of SMG (Standard Muscle Groups) and weights of gut tissue components were recorded. The weights of head and tail muscles were also recorded to obtain BMW (Body Muscle Weight) , BBW (Body Bone Weight) , BFW (Body Fat Weight) and BCIW (Body Connective Tissue Weight). The body composition data were analysed by using the variables in the equation: y = axb in logarithmic form (log y = log a + b log x). Comparisons between sexes are being made by using one-sway analyses of co-variance. In the thesis, b values are referred to as growth coefficients or relative growth ratios, and a values as intercepts. (1) Body composition: The apparent and true dressing percentages were not affected by sex and did not change significantly throughout the ranges of FBW and EBW . Both apparent and true dressing percentages are much lower in buffalo than in cattle. At the same FBW or EBN, bulls had less FBW, heavier BBW and BCTW than cows. Bulls had a higher BMW than cows at the same EBW, but both had similar BMW at the same FBW. Sex affected the growth coefficient of head (bulls) cows) and omental fat (cows > bulls) relative to FBW, but it did not affect the growth coefficients of other offal components. Similar results were obtained when offal components were regressed on EBW, apart from the growth coefficient for hide(bulls > cows). At the same EBW, bulls had less blood, heavier head, hide and feet, lighter urogenital tract and alimentary tract than cows. At the same live-weight, the blood, head, feet, hide and alimentary tract appeared to be heavier in buffalo than in cattle. (2) Carcass composition: Sex affected the growth coefficient of SMW relative to HSW (bulls > caws), whereas those for other carcass components were similar between sexes. At the same HSW, bulls had higher SMW and SCIW and lighter SFW than cows (different intercepts), but both had similar SBW. Age (as distinct from erupted incisors) did not affect carcass composition of cows. Within sex comparisons at the same HSW shaved that the buffalo had more muscle than British beef cattle breeds and a similar amount to Bos indicus, Shorthorn cross and Friesian cattle, less fat than cattle, more bone than British beef cattle breeds but similar amount to Friesian cattle and less than Bos indicus cattle.