ALLOMETRY GROWTH COEFFICIENTS OF CARCASS AND NON-CARCASS COMPONENTS IN SMALL RUMINANTS: A REVIEW

Abstract

In this review article attempt is made to present a comprehensive on growth and development of small ruminants (sheep and goat) using allometric growth coefficient of carcass composition (lean, fat and bone) and non-carcass components (edible and non-edible organs organs). It seems that allometry coefficient (b) for bone is precocious (b<1) and demonstrating a declining proportion of the component with increasing carcass and empty body weight. Similarly, it appears that lean part has growth coefficient (b<1) indicating lower impetus than the whole animal and they decline as a proportion of live body weight as the animal proceeds to maturity. With regard to different depots of fat, in the body, it seems that subcutaneous fat grow at a higher rate that intramuscular fat, and non-carcass fat depots is an early mature. Also, most of vital organs (heart, kidney, liver and spleen) had growth coefficient less than are indicating they are early maturing.