Estimating body composition using CT scans of cross-bred lambs fed at 2 feeding levels and 2 stages of maturity to inform predictive growth models.

Livestock producers would benefit from more precise predictions of the growth response from nutrients consumed. Previously published models are often limited by the realities of data collection and are unable to account for alterations to body composition, due in part to the response of visceral organs to an alternate diet. The computerized tomography (CT) scanning of lambs enables the analysis of changes in body composition of individual animals over time, potentially supporting better model development and testing.

Level of feeding and stage of maturity affects diet digestibility and protein and fat deposition in cross-bred lambs.

Metabolizable energy intake is the key determining factor for the expression of an animal's genetic potential for growth, and current predictive growth models are not capable of accounting for all the nutritional variation that is commonly observed. The current study was designed to investigate energy transactions as lambs grow using CT scanning to assess body compositional changes at two levels of intake and two stages of maturity, and compare results to predictive equations. A pelleted diet was provided to cross-bred lambs (n = 108) at approximately 2.

A novel surgical approach to marginal soft tissue recessions: two-year results of 11 case studies.

This article describes a surgical procedure used to achieve gingival coverage in denuded roots in mandibular canines. The first surgical stage involves an apically displaced partial-thickness flap in the area adjacent to the recession. A laterally displaced graft is then employed to cover the recession.