Evaluation of urea dilution as a technique for estimating body composition of beef steers in vivo: validation of published equations and comparison with chemical composition

Urea dilution equations for prediction of empty body water in live cattle, developed by three separate groups of investigators, were evaluated by comparing empty body water calculated by these equations with that measured chemically in 6-, 12- and 18-mo-old crossbred beef steers (n = 10, 9 and 9, respectively). Of four equations for prediction of percent empty body water, one derived from mixed-breeds of steers overestimated empty body water in the 6-mo-old steers by 7.59% (P less than .05). For the 12- and 18-mo-old steers, calculated and measured percent empty body water did not differ (P greater than .05). Of seven equations for calculation of empty body water volume, two derived from Angus steers with an without live weight in the equation, and one derived from a combination of Angus and mixed-breeds of steers overestimated empty body water (P less than .05) in the 6-mo-old steers. No differences (P greater than .05) between calculated and measured empty body water volume were observed for either the 12- or 18-mo-old steers. When calculated empty body water values were regressed against that measured directly, all regression slopes were not different from 1 (P greater than .05). Intercepts from regressions involving percent empty body water (four equations) were not different from 0. Three of the seven equations for calculation of empty body water volume, one derived from bulls and the others from Angus steers had intercept estimates not different (P greater than .05) from 0. Validity required that these regressions have slopes not different from 1 and intercepts not different from 0. Empty body water calculated from equations that combined live weight and urea space were more highly correlated with directly measured empty body water than that calculated from equations derived only from urea space. Urea space correlations with body composition of our steers also were improved when live weight was included with urea space in multiple regression models. Results of this study suggest that before using any prediction equation for calculating body composition of cattle in vivo, equations should be tested with a sub-sample of cattle from the population for which its use is intended.     

Prediction of empty body components in steers by urea dilution

Empty body composition of 68 mixed-breed and 50 Angus steers was determined by chemical analysis of the right half-carcass and entire noncarcass fraction of each steer. Chemical composition was used to develop prediction equations for empty body protein (EBPRO) and fat (EBFAT) in steers using urea space (US) and body weight measurements. Previous research showed a significant positive correlation between empty body water (EBH2O) and urea space in these steers. For all steers studied, the percentage of EBH2O ranged from 44.8 to 69.2 (mean = 56.0), the percentage of EBPRO ranged from 14.1 to 19.8 (mean = 17.0) and the percentage of EBFAT ranged from 6.1 to 38.1 (mean = 22.1). The best predictions obtained were multiple regression equations with actual weight of body components as dependent variables and US and empty body weight (EB) as independent variables. Urea space alone was a poor predictor of EBFAT, but US improved predictions based on live weight (LW) or EB alone. Coefficients of determination for the best predictions of percentage of composition were not as high as coefficients of determination for the best predictions of actual weight of body components. These data suggest that US measurements can be used to predict empty body composition of live steers, but this may require repeated measurements and an independent estimate of EB from LW for greatest accuracy.     

Effect of dietary fiber on young adult genetically lean, obese and contemporary pigs: body weight, carcass measurements, organ weights and digesta content

Twenty-one genetically lean, obese or contemporary barrows (6 mo old; seven of each genotype) were assigned to individual tether stalls and fed a control diet (low-fiber) or a diet containing 80% alfalfa meal (high-fiber) at 1.50% of initial body weight for 71 d (1.75% for d 1 to 4). Backfat thickness was recorded ultrasonically at 2-wk intervals, and body weight was recorded at the beginning and end of the 10-wk experiment. Pigs were slaughtered after a 24-h fast, and carcass weight, length and backfat thickness and cross-sectional area of the longissimus muscle were measured. Weights of cecum, heart, liver and kidney and of full and empty stomach and colon and empty small intestine were recorded. Volume and weight of colon and cecum contents were determined. Restriction of digestible energy reduced weight gain to zero or below in pigs fed alfalfa meal compared with 220 g daily in pigs fed the low-fiber diet. Restriction of energy reduced backfat in all three genotypes. Liver, kidney and empty segments of the gastrointestinal tract as a percentage of body weight were increased by high fiber. Obese pigs had smaller longissimus muscle area, more backfat and smaller liver, heart, empty stomach and colon than lean or contemporary pigs, but there were no diet X genotype interactions for any of these traits. Obese pigs consistently had smaller digesta volumes and dry matter weights than the other genotypes. The increased relative organ weights and the associated disproportionate contribution of these organs to body energy expenditure have important implications for effects on basal metabolic rate.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Plasma, rumen and urine pools in urea dilution determination of body composition in cattle

To determine if urea diffuses into reticulo-ruminal water (RRW) during urea dilution estimation of body composition, four 450-kg heifers were infused intravenously with a solution containing 65.05 g urea plus .95 g 15N-urea, after a 20-h removal of feed. Blood, urine and rumen fluid were collected before infusion and at various times for 120 min after infusion. Plasma 15N clearance was described by a two-pool model. Plasma and urine 15N levels equilibrated within 12 min post-infusion and then declined at similar rates, suggesting that renal clearance is a major component of the second pool. Rumen fluid contained no urea and rumen NH3-N did not increase during the study. Rumen fluid and plasma 15N did not equilibrate over the time studied (rumen fluid 15N/plasma 15N = .07 and .17 at 12 and 120 min after infusion, respectively). Therefore, urea dilution at 12 min overestimates empty body water only by the volume of urine produced during this time; RRW influences urea dilution estimation of body composition only as a component of live weight.     

Procedural and mathematical considerations in urea dilution estimation of body composition in lambs

Two experiments (n = 46 and 56, respectively) were conducted to evaluate urea dilution as an estimator of body composition in lambs and to address certain procedural and mathematical considerations in this technique. In Exp. 1, 14 blood samples were taken over 240 min after urea infusion. The equation describing the urea clearance curve was: delta PUN = 9.7e-.1727(min) + 10.4e-.0021(min), pools 1 and 2, respectively (r2 = .99, P less than .001; individual lamb effects removed). In the combined experiments, urea space (US) was related to percentage of empty body water (PEBH2O) by the equation 31.7 + .471 US (empty body weight basis; r2 = .56, P less than .001). The regression equation indicates that the US-PEBH2O relationship in lambs is different from that reported in cattle, even though urea clearance kinetics are similar. Although the prediction equations appeared to be biologically valid, considerable error was associated with the composition estimates. The PEBH2O was predicted as well by live weight (r2 = .69; SEy.x = 3.0) as by US in these experiments. The two-sample method (T12 minus T0) to determine the change in marker concentration was shown to be related more closely (r2 = .56) to PEBH2O than the standard multisample extrapolation to T0 method (r2 = .0 and .38 for pools 1 and 2, respectively). An equilibration time of 9 to 12 min provided the best estimate of body composition in lambs.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

The relationship of average backfat thickness of feedlot steers to performance and relative efficiency of fat and protein retention

Selection for growth and improved carcass merit has resulted in cattle that are variable in composition of gain during the finishing phase. This study assessed the relative performance among cattle with different levels of initial backfat thickness. It also exploited the ability to track carcass composition in the live animal with ultrasound estimates of backfat and marbling. A procedure was developed to partition and estimate relative efficiency of fat and protein gain. The trial periods were the last 43 or 50 d before slaughter and included 10 pens (average of 27 animals per pen) that ranged in average backfat thickness from 6.3 to 13.1 mm. There was no correlation (r2 = 0.0026) between average backfat thickness and G:F (g/kg of DMI). Correlations between average backfat thickness and ADG or DMI were also nearly zero (r2 = 0.0007 and 0.0042, respectively). Fat deposition from NEg was 3.98 times more efficient than protein deposition. Carcass backfat thickness was a poor predictor of carcass marbling score (r2 = 0.083), even though backfat thickness was an important predictor of the percentage of empty body fat (r2 = 0.807). The results indicate that a measure of backfat thickness on the live animal during the finishing phase is not an effective predictor of future feed efficiency. They also confirm that protein accretion is energetically expensive, and that using a single coefficient for predicting gain from NEg is valid regardless of whether gain is predominantly muscle or fat. These data document that there is little relationship between body composition and marbling score, which is contrary to models that assume a USDA quality grade target at a specified percent fat end point.     

In vivo body composition estimation in nongravid and reproducing first-litter sows with deuterium oxide

An experiment was conducted with 64 first-litter sows to evaluate the efficacy of a D2O dilution procedure for measuring in vivo body composition during the reproduction cycle. Eight gilts were each infused at breeding, 57 and 105 d postcoitum and at 5 and 25 d postpartum, with equivalent numbers of nongravid controls infused at corresponding periods except at 5 d postpartum. Results from D2O dilution were compared with body water estimates obtained from chemical analysis. An early-equilibrating D2O pool (before 15 min) was similar quantitatively to empty body (ingesta free) water in nongravid and lactating animals, but not in pregnant sows. Because of inconsistent D2O equilibration patterns in gravid sows, the early pool was considered to have equilibrated with part but not all of the water in the conceptus products. Total body D2O space measurement obtained from data following equilibration of D2O in the entire body (1 to 2 h) overestimated total body water (including gastrointestinal water) by approximately 19%. Coefficients of determination for equations relating total body D2O space to empty body and maternal body water were .96 and .88, respectively, in gestating sows and .67 and .74, respectively, for lactating sows, while coefficients of variation were below 6% in all cases. Prediction equations were developed to estimate empty and maternal body components (protein, fat and ash) from body weight and D2O space. Accuracy of protein and ash weight prediction is lowest with this procedure because it involves the composite error of estimation of the other body components.     

Quantitative trait loci mapping in an F2 Duroc x Pietrain resource population: I. Growth traits

Pigs from the F(2) generation of a Duroc x Pietrain resource population were evaluated to discover QTL affecting growth and composition traits. Body weight and ultrasound estimates of 10th-rib backfat, last-rib backfat, and LM area were serially measured throughout development. Estimates of fat-free total lean, total body fat, empty body protein, empty body lipid, and ADG from 10 to 22 wk of age were calculated, and random regression analyses were performed to estimate individual animal phenotypes representing intercept and linear rates of increase in these serial traits. A total of 510 F(2) animals were genotyped for 124 micro-satellite markers evenly spaced across the genome. Data were analyzed with line cross, least squares regression, interval mapping methods using sex and litter as fixed effects. Significance thresholds of the F-statistic for single QTL with additive, dominance, or imprinted effects were determined at the chromosome- and genome-wise levels by permutation tests. A total of 43 QTL for 22 of the 29 measured traits were found to be significant at the 5% chromosome-wise level. Of these 43 QTL, 20 were significant at the 1% chromosome-wise significance threshold, 14 of these 20 were also significant at the 5% genome-wise significance threshold, and 10 of these 14 were also significant at the 1% genome-wise significance threshold. A total of 22 QTL for the animal random regression terms were found to be significant at the 5% chromosome-wise level. Of these 22 QTL, 6 were significant at the 1% chromosome-wise significance threshold, 4 of these 6 were also significant at the 5% genome-wise significance threshold, and 3 of these 4 were also significant at the 1% genome-wise significance threshold. Putative QTL were discovered for 10th-rib and last-rib backfat on SSC 6, body composition traits on SSC 9, backfat and lipid composition traits on SSC 11, 10th-rib backfat and total body fat tissue on SSC 12, and linear regression of last-rib backfat and total body fat tissue on SSC 8. These results will facilitate fine-mapping efforts to identify genes controlling growth and body composition of pigs that can be incorporated into marker-assisted selection programs to accelerate genetic improvement in pig populations.     

Genotype and sex effects on the relationship between energy intake and protein deposition in growing pigs

Seventy-two crossbred (Large White X Landrace) pigs were used in a 3 X 7 factorial experiment to investigate the response of two strains of boars (strains A and B) and of castrated male pigs (strain B) to seven levels of intake of a single diet (ranging from 5.3 Mcal digestible energy [DE]/d to ad libitum) between 45 and 90 kg live weight. All aspects of growth performance and body composition were affected to different degrees by both strain and sex. At all levels of energy intake strain A boars grew faster, had a lower feed to gain ratio and contained less fat and more water in the empty body than strain B boars, which in turn exhibited faster live weight gain and more efficient and leaner growth than castrated males. The magnitude of the differences in growth performance between strain A and strain B boars and castrates increased with increased energy intake above 7.88 Mcal DE/d, and these differences were associated with concomitant strain differences in their respective capacity for protein growth and in the relationship between energy intake and protein deposition. For strain A boars the rate of protein deposition increased linearly from 92 to 188 g/d with increased energy intake from 5.3 Mcal DE/d to ad libitum. For strain B boars and castrates the rate of protein deposition increased linearly with increased energy intake up to 7.88 Mcal DE/d, but thereafter it remained constant at 128 and 85 g/d, respectively. For castrates protein deposition was depressed (P less than .01) when the diet was offered ad libitum. Strain A boars had a higher energy requirement for maintenance (3.55 Mcal DE/d) than strain B boars (2.77 Mcal DE/d) or castrates (2.60 Mcal DE/d). Strain A boars also contained less protein and more water in the fat free empty body than the other two pig types.     

不同屠宰活重豫西黑猪的营养成分及肉质特性分析

【目的】探讨豫西黑猪营养成分及肉质性状在不同体重阶段的发育性变化规律。【方法】选取平均体重约为60、75、90、105、120 kg 5个体重阶段的豫西黑猪,每组5头,共25头,每组随机选取3头进行屠宰,公母随机。屠宰后取背最长肌测定眼肌面积、背膘厚、脂肪率、失水率、脂肪酸、氨基酸和胆固醇等指标,测定肌内脂肪含量、脂滴直径和脂滴数目,采集100 g腰大肌测定熟肉率。【结果】豫西黑猪在体重达到120 kg之前,随着屠宰活重的增加,眼肌面积、背膘厚、脂肪率、熟肉率、肌内脂肪含量、肉色、剪切力、脂滴数目和脂滴直径均随之增加。眼肌面积在105、120 kg时均极显著高于60、75 kg(P<0.01),显著高于90 kg(P<0.05);背膘厚在90、105、120 kg时均极显著高于60 kg(P<0.01);肌内脂肪含量在90、105、120 kg时均显著高于60、75 kg(P<0.05);脂滴直径和脂滴数目在75、90、105、120 kg时均显著高于60 kg(P<0.05);脂肪酸中饱和脂肪酸以肉豆蔻酸、棕榈酸、硬脂酸等为主,不饱和脂肪酸以棕榈油酸、油...     

Growth, development and body composition in three genetic stocks of swine

Differences in growth, chemical body composition and visceral organ development were evaluated in three genetic stocks: Beltsville Highfat (HF) and Lowfat (LF) Duroc-Yorkshire composites and a Hampshire X Large White cross (CX). Ten sets of littermate barrows were used from each stock. One pig from each set was slaughtered at 10, 17 and 24 wk of age. After slaughter, each pig was dissected into three fractions: carcass, head and feet, viscera and blood. Backfat was measured at three locations and visceral organs were weighed separately. Each fraction was frozen, ground, sampled and analyzed in duplicate for protein, fat, water and ash. The CX pigs were heaviest at all ages and contained the most fat-free mass (FFM). The HF pigs were smallest and contained the most fat, while LF pigs tended to be intermediate. The LF pigs deposited a greater proportion of weight in head and feet and a greater proportion of total FFM in the carcass than HF and CX pigs. Estimated allometric growth coefficients for non-fat chemical components relative to empty body weight (EBWT) were lower for HF than LF and CX, which were similar. Coefficients for fat were similar among stocks yet intercepts differed widely. Relative to total FFM, water increased at a faster rate and ash a slower rate in CX pigs compared to HF and LF. Growth coefficients were calculated for internal organs relative to EBWT. Coefficients for organs of the digestive tract were not different among stocks. However, significant differences among stocks were found for heart, lung, spleen and liver that were not explained by differences in body composition.     

猪背膘中NADPH生成酶的活性与瘦肉率关系的初步研究

试验选择湖北白猪断奶仔猪48头,测定150和180日龄的活体背膘厚及背膘脂肪组织中NADPH生成酶的活性。180日龄随机屠宰36头。对背膘中4种NADPH生成酶的活性与活体背膘厚及胴体性状进行相关分析,结果表明:150和180日龄4种酶的总活性与活体背膘厚、胴体背膘厚及肥肉率呈正相关;与胴体瘦肉率呈负相关。说明4种NADPH生成酶的活性高时,猪的活体背膘厚、胴体肥肉率提高,瘦肉率降低。文中还给出了用酶活性估测瘦肉率的回归方程。研究结果表明猪背膘中4种NADPH生成酶的活性可以作为选择瘦肉型猪瘦肉率性状的辅助指标。     

Analysis of body composition changes of swine during growth and development.

This study was conducted to model the growth of carcass, viscera, and empty body components and component composition of pigs. Quantitative tissue and chemical composition of 319 swine, representative of barrows and gilts from five commercial genetic populations, was determined at eight stages of growth between 25 and 152 kg. After whole body grinding and carcass dissection, proximate analyses were performed to calculate concentrations of protein, lipid, moisture, and ash of carcass, viscera, empty body, carcass lean, and carcass fat. Linear and nonlinear equations were developed to investigate the growth patterns of each component. Nonlinear growth functions accounted for the greatest amount of variation in empty body protein, lipid, moisture, and ash mass. Differences (P < .05) existed between barrows and gilts for nearly all components investigated. Carcass lean and fat tissues significantly increased in lipid percentage and decreased in moisture percentage as live weight increased. There were significant changes in the ratio and composition of the tissues of barrows and gilts during growth. Nonlinear models fitted the data better than allometric equations for nearly all of the components investigated.     

Comparison of market hog characteristics of pigs selected by feeder pig frame size or current USDA feeder pig grade standards

Two feeder pig grading systems were tested. Forty-five barrows were selected using current USDA Feeder Pig Grade Standards (U.S. No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3). Additionally, 45 barrows were selected using three frame sizes (large, medium and small). Pigs were slaughtered at 100, 113.5 of 127 kg live weight. Trimmed four lean cuts were separated into soft tissue, skin and bone. The skinless belly and soft tissue from the four lean cuts were ground separately and analyzed chemically. Data from each grading system were analyzed separately in a 3 X 3 factorial plan. Pigs selected using current USDA grade standards differed (P less than .05) for last rib backfat, 10th rib fat depth, longissimus muscle area, percentage of trimmed four lean cuts and USDA carcass grade. In the frame size system, pigs with large frame size had less last rib backfat, less 10th rib fat depth, longer carcasses, higher percentage of four lean cuts and superior USDA carcass grades than pigs with small frame size did (P less than .05). The Bradley and Schumann test of sensitivity showed that selection by frame size was more sensitive than current USDA grade standards for discriminating feeder pig foreleg length, body depth and ham width. In addition, selection by frame size was more sensitive than current USDA grade standards for discriminating carcass length and carcass radius length. No increase in sensitivity (P greater than .10) was noted for carcass composition or growth traits over the current USDA Feeder Pig Grade Standards.     

Evaluation of the use of deuterium oxide dilution techniques for determination of body composition of beef steers

Body composition as estimated by a one- or two-compartment deuterium oxide dilution technique was compared with directly measured body composition of 15 large- and 15 small-frame steers. Body composition of the steers was measured at 219, 412 and 603 kg live weight. Empty body protein was overestimated (P less than .05) 3.6% from a one-compartment model (1 CM, using the slope, intercept method), while empty body protein was underestimated (P less than .05) 5.4% from a two-compartment kinetic model (2CM). Empty body ether extract estimated by 1 CM was not significantly different from the direct method, although 4.7% larger. Empty body ether extract was overestimated (P less than .001) 32.2% by the 2CM. Empty body water was accurately estimated from the 1CM when a 3.2% correction factor was used for the overestimation of total body water by the 1CM, but water in gastrointestinal tract contents was overestimated (P less than .001) 13.4% by the 1CM. Empty body water was underestimated (P less than .001) 7.8% by the 2CM, and water in gastrointestinal tract contents was overestimated (P less than .001) 41.8% by the 2CM due to its dependence on regression equations that differ between groups of cattle. The 2CM offered no advantage over the 1CM. A three-compartment model was not better than the 2CM in estimating body water compartments. Assuming the amount of empty body water associated with either empty body protein or ash to be constant seemed to be valid. Suggested values calculated from data presented in the literature for growing cattle with an empty body weight greater than 175 kg are .302 and .0668, respectively, for the ratios of protein and ash to water. The relationship between empty body fat and water was, percentage empty body fat = 94.27--(1.267)(percentage empty body water), which had a 1.25 residual standard deviation and a .98 coefficient of determination.     

Interrelationships between sex and exogenous growth hormone administration on performance, body composition and protein and fat accretion of growing pigs

Forty-five pigs with an average initial live weight of 60 kg were used to investigate the effects of daily exogenous porcine pituitary growth hormone administration at two dose levels (pGH; 0, excipient buffer injected, and 100 micrograms.kg-1.d-1) for a 31-d period on the performance and body composition of boars, gilts and barrows allowed to consume feed ad libitum. Excipient boars consumed less feed, exhibited faster and more efficient growth (P less than .01) and produced less fat and more protein and water (P less than .01) in the empty body compared with excipient barrows, which in turn contained more fat and less water (P less than .05) in the empty body than did excipient gilts. These differences were largely eliminated by pGH administration, which induced differential effects in growth performance and body composition in boars, gilts and barrows. Growth hormone administration improved growth rate by 13, 22 and 16% and feed conversion efficiency by 19, 34 and 32% in boars, gilts and barrows, respectively. The reduction of body fat content (g/kg) elicited by pGH was 22, 36 and 33% for boars, gilts and barrows, respectively, with a corresponding increase (P less than .01) of body protein and water content. The magnitude of the pGH responses was greatest for gilts and barrows compared with boars, negating intrinsic sex-effect differences in growth performance and body composition of pigs. Pigs used in this study and treated with pGH exhibited a rate of protein deposition (approximately 225 g/d) far greater than previously reported, and as such redefine the genetic capacity for lean tissue growth by the pig.     

Tracer studies of urea kinetics in growing pigs: II. The effect of starch infusion at the distal ileum on urea recycling and bacterial nitrogen excretion.

Six gilts, with an average BW of 70 kg, were fitted with a simple T-cannula at the distal ileum to study the effect of continuous starch infusion on urea kinetics by means of a radioisotope dilution technique. The pigs were fed twice daily 600 g of a cornstarch-based diet formulated to contain 16% CP by supplementation with isolated soy protein. Infusion of starch, compared with water, decreased (P < .05) plasma urea concentration, urea pool size, and entry, excretion, and degradation rates; urea turnover rate and urea space were not affected (P > .05). Expressed as a percentage of total entry rate, approximately 40% of urea was recycled into the digestive tract in both infusion treatments. The stimulation of microbial fermentation in the large intestine resulted in an increase (P < .05) in fecal N excretion, which was mainly due to an increased excretion of bacterial N. This increase could not be attributed to a greater secretion of urea into the large intestine and its subsequent utilization by the intestinal microflora. The increased bacterial N assimilation after starch infusion led to a reduction in ammonia absorption from the large intestine, which in turn was reflected by a reduced urinary N excretion. As a result, the overall N balance was not affected. In a second experiment, two barrows, with an average BW of 80 kg, were fed twice daily 1.4 kg of a cereal-based diet. The body urea pool of both pigs was labeled with a single injection of 1 g and 2 g of [15N]urea, respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Effects of ractopamine on genetically obese and lean pigs

Twenty-eight genetically obese and 24 lean barrows (65.0 and 68.7 kg average BW, respectively) were allotted within genotype to a 16% CP corn-soybean meal basal diet or this basal diet + 20 ppm ractopamine (a phenethanolamine beta-adrenergic agonist) and allowed ad libitum access to feed for 48 d. Compared to lean pigs, obese pigs had lower ADG, gain to feed ratio, longissimus muscle area, predicted amount of muscle, and weights of trimmed loin and ham, ham lean, heart, spleen, kidney and gastrointestinal tract (P less than .05). Obese pigs also had shorter carcass but higher dressing percentage, backfat thickness, fat depth, fat area, untrimmed loin weight and fasting plasma urea N concentration (P less than .05). Dietary supplementation with 20 ppm ractopamine reduced daily feed intake and improved gain to feed ratio in both lean and obese pigs (P less than .05). Pigs fed ractopamine had shorter carcasses, less fat depth and fat area, smaller weights of stomach and colon plus rectum, but higher dressing percentages, longissimus muscle areas, weights of trimmed Boston butts, picnics and loins, ham lean and predicted amounts of muscle than pigs not fed ractopamine (P less than .05). Supplemental ractopamine had no effect on fasting plasma concentrations of urea N, nonesterified fatty acids, triglyceride or glucose (P greater than .05). No genotype x ractopamine interactions for the criteria described above were detected (P greater than .05). These results suggest that ractopamine will improve the efficiency of feed utilization and carcass leanness in swine with different propensities for body fat deposition.     

In vivo prediction of extracellular and intracellular water in cattle and sheep using thiocyanate and urea

Two experiments were conducted in cattle and sheep to determine the earliest time for thiocyanate equilibration with extracellular water. In Exp. 1, nine animals were infused to determine marker concentrations and sampling times. In Exp. 2, five steers were infused and then exsanguinated for tissue analyses. Thiocyanate equilibrated 22 to 31 min after infusion with a pool size equivalent to expected extracellular water. Plasma thiocyanate half-life averaged 29 h. Tissue concentrations 24 or 48 h after thiocyanate infusion were 20 to 24% of those observed in plasma for heart muscle and kidney and 6 to 8% in liver and skeletal muscle. A procedure is proposed for the in vivo estimation of empty body water (urea dilution), extracellular water (thiocyanate dilution) and, by difference, intracellular water in cattle and sheep, requiring only three blood samples, an initial sample and two samples taken 12 and 28 min after intravenous infusion of a urea-thiocyanate solution.     

Evaluation of sodium thiosulfate as an extracellular water marker in cattle.

Two studies were conducted to determine whether sodium thiosulfate (THS) can estimate extracellular water (ECW) in beef cattle in conjunction with empty body water (EBW) estimation by urea space. Experiment 1 used 24 steers (366 kg) to determine the clearance parameters for THS and urea. Blood samples were taken over 1 h. A two-component curve, Y = A1ek1(t) + A2ek2(t), (t = hours after infusion) fit the clearance of both markers; intercepts (A1, A2) and clearance coefficients (k1, k2) were 44.8, 44.4, -25.8, and -2.24 mg/dL, respectively, for THS (r2 = .98, Sy.x = 2.72, animal effects removed and 24.4, 10.5, -21.7, and -.71 mg/dL, respectively, for urea (r2 = .98, Sy.x = 1.49). Sodium thiosulfate equilibrated with ECW 5 to 10 min after infusion. Experiment 2 consisted of 22 steers (483 kg) infused with a combination solution of 20% urea, 10% THS, and 4% sodium thiocyanate (SCN; equilibration time = 28 min); half the steers were implanted with estradiol. Empty body water increased with implantation (P less than .01). Extracellular water tended to increase in implanted steers as measured by THS (12 min, P = .14) and SCN (P = .10). The estimation of ECW at 12 min was not different (P greater than .2) from the SCN estimate at 28 min (SCN = 3.7 + .873 THS; r2 = .70; P less than .001). Sodium thiosulfate gave reasonable estimates of ECW (22 to 26% of BW) and required only 0- and 12-min blood samples.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)