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This study aimed to estimate the productive and economic impacts caused by the withdrawal of antibiotic growth promoters (AGP) from broilers diet. Indexed publications that compared diets with or without AGP (AGP+/AGP-) for broilers (from initial to final phase) were collected and the results of feed intake, weight gain, and feed conversion were compiled in a database. A meta-analysis was performed following sequential analyses: graphical approach (to observe biological data coherence), correlation (to identify related factors), and variance-covariance (to compare groups). The annual number of broiler slaughtered in Brazil, target weight gain and feed conversion for each phase, the variation in feed conversion, feed cost, and AGP costs were used to build a model to estimate the effects of the AGP withdrawal on feeding costs. The database comprised 174 scientific articles containing 183 experiments, totaling 121,643 broilers, most of which were Ross (52% of the studies). The most frequent AGP sources/forms in the database were Avilamycin (41% of the AGP+ treatments), Flavomycin (19%), Virginiamycin (16%), and Bacitracin (14%). Higher feed intake, weight gain, and lower feed conversion were attributed (P < 0.05) to AGP+ diets during Initial phase (1 to 21 D). In Final phase (22 to 42 D) no differences were observed in performance variables. Treatments AGP+ presented higher weight gain and better feed conversion in the Total period (1 to 42 D). The results of feed conversion were improved (P < 0.05) with Avilamycin and Flavomycin; Virginiamycin improved weight gain and feed conversion. In the Total period, the economic impact was $0.03 per animal and a total of $183,560,232 per year. It was concluded that broilers fed AGP+ diets have higher weight gain and better feed conversion than those fed AGP- diets, and withdrawing AGP increases production costs.

In this paper we described a new tool used for frequent growth monitoring in pig production. The aim of the constructed tool was to alert farmers about deterioration in pigs’ growth and to provide current and historical growth statistics for consecutive batches. The tool was built as a dynamic linear model (DLM) for systems with identified and unidentified pigs. The growth of pigs was described by parameters representing an initial body weight (BW), average daily gain and daily fluctuations in BW of pigs. Moreover, the constructed tool was built to account for increasing variation in BW of pigs over time as well as autocorrelation between BW measurements of observed individuals. The forecast errors obtained from the DLM were standardized and monitored with a tabular cusum. Alarms obtained from the cusum were registered both on batch (identified and unidentified pigs) and individual level (identified pigs). The constructed tool was tested on data gathered between February and September 2016. Altogether, data from 3 batches, 1058 individuals and 146,926 BW observations were collected and analyzed. For all 3 batches, filtered and smoothened growth means were obtained and plotted. Using the model for identified and unidentified pigs, the growth problems were detected on certain dates in Batch 2 and Batch 3. In both identification scenarios, similar batch alarms were obtained. The example on growth alarms for individual pigs (using version of the model for identified pigs) was also provided. The filtered herd mean, obtained from the constructed DLM, was calculated based on all pigs present at the start of fattening. Therefore, the obtained batch BW mean was accounting also for the heaviest individuals sold after exceeding a defined target weight from the observed batches. Hence, the presented tool can be useful in obtaining growth statistics for systems where pigs are sold continuously. Frequent BW information can be useful in informing farmers about unexpected events influencing growth e.g. outbreaks of diseases or management problems. Moreover, the historical information on growth might be valuable in making optimal decisions regarding management. In the future the economic value of information from frequent BW monitoring should be assessed. In this study, we have demonstrated that frequent observations of unidentified pigs can provide meaningful alarms on growth deterioration at the batch level.

The aim of this study was to quantify the effects of different processing parameters on texture development and the incidence of white film and tyrosine crystals in dry-cured ham. Hams were dry-salted for 0.65, 0.8 or 1.0 days/kg. After drying for 45 days at 5 °C, they were dried at 10, 15 or 20 °C until reaching 33% weight loss and, thereafter, dried at 25 °C until reaching 36 or 40% weight loss. The salting time, drying temperature and target weight loss significantly affected the texture and incidence of white film and tyrosine crystals. A beneficial effect of drying at 20 °C on texture was found, which was especially important for low target weight loss (33%). Besides, hams dried at 20 °C and those with 40% weight loss showed higher incidence of tyrosine crystals. Contour plots and predictive models for texture can be used to define optimal processing parameters info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersion

A decision-support tool that automatically selects an age-specific target weight for beef heifers and specifies the daily liveweight gain (DLWG) required to achieve this target weight within 3 months was developed as an aid for farmers to use to promote calving at 24 months of age in the Northern Ireland suckler herd. The ability of Northern Ireland beef producers to follow this target-driven growth management plan and calve heifers at 24 months of age was appraised in a study involving a total of 459 heifers of 10 breeds on six suckler farms. A unique growth curve was generated for each farm, with the aim of achieving 60% and 90% of the estimated mature weight of their cows at 14 months and 24 months respectively. Mature weight was estimated using the 6.7% truncated mean weight of mature cows on each farm. At intervals of 3 months, heifer weight, body condition score (BCS) and diet quality and quantity were assessed on each farm and a target weight for the next visit was specified, along with the DLWG required to achieve that target weight. Typically, heifers were significantly above their target weight prior to 9 months of age (P

Safety work of coal mine is complicated system engineering. Analyzing the safety condition of coal mines by using the theory of man-machine-environment system engineering can effectively prevent the disasters and accidents. Taking the man-machine-environment system as the foundation to establish safety assessment target system of coal mines and determine the system level structure and the safety assessment target weight of coal mines. Then the whole synthesis judgment of man-machine-environment three single factors of coal mines is done by the fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method separately, and get qualitative and quantitative evaluation results which is direct viewing, scientific, reasonable and reliable to know the overall safety condition of the system, has the practical application value.

Hypervolemia is associated with increased mortality and morbidity in heart failure patients. While there are many methods to assess volume status, monitoring change in weight is valuable and easy to replicate. MaineHealth (MH) uses Target Weight (TW) to coordinate the care of heart failure (HF)

Postnatal nutrition has immediate and long-lasting effects on beef heifer reproductive efficiency, longevity, and productivity. This article reviews the effects of nutrients and nutritional management on reproduction in developing heifers. In addition, the current debate on the preferred target weight for heifers at breeding is discussed.

Protein energy malnutrition (PEM) occurs when energy and protein intake do not meet requirements. It has a functional and structural impact and increases both morbidity and mortality of a given disease. The Nutrition Committee of the French Pediatric Society recommends weighing and measuring any child when hospitalized or seen in consultation. The body mass index (BMI) must be calculated and analyzed according to references any time growth kinetics cannot be analyzed. Any child with a BMI below the third centile or -2 standard deviations for age and sex needs to be examined looking for clinical signs of malnutrition and signs orienting toward an etiology and requires having his BMI and height dynamics plotted on a chart. PEM warrants drawing up a nutritional strategy along with the overall care plan. A target weight needs to be determined as well as the quantitative and qualitative nutritional care including its implementation. This plan must be evaluated afterwards in order to adapt the nutritional therapy.

Techniques from queueing theory can be used to model the growth of individuals in a stochastic environment where the growth rate cannot exceed some physiological maximum. In the simplifying case where there are no metabolic costs and the individual has an unlimited gut size, a general theory for the probability of reaching a target weight is presented. The role of environmental variance is examined in two different cases; randomly varying prey size and clustering in the prey arrival rate. It is argued that when food is scarce environmental stochasticity is beneficial to the individual but when food is abundant it can lower the chance of survival. The growth and recruitment of larval fish is used as an example.

Objective To assess the relation between beginning to binge-eat or purge, beginning to smoke, and getting drunk for the first time. Method Prospective study of 11,358 girls and boys, 10 to 15 years of age, in an ongoing cohort study who completed questionnaires in 1997 and 1998. The outcome measures were beginning to engage in bulimic behaviors, beginning to smoke, and getting drunk for the first time between 1997 and 1998. Results During 1 year, 4.3% of girls and 3.6% of boys started smoking, 5.3% of girls and 4.8% of boys started getting drunk, and 2.4% of girls and 0.6% of boys started engaging in bulimic behaviors. Among the girls, weight concerns in 1997 were predictive of beginning to smoke (odds ratio [OR] = 2.2), get drunk (OR = 1.7), purge (OR = 3.8), and binge-eat (OR = 2.6). Adolescents who reported smoking in 1997 were more likely than nonsmokers to get drunk for the first time (girls: OR = 5.7; boys: OR = 7.1). The reverse association, getting drunk as a predictor of starting to smoke, was of lesser magnitude (OR = 2.3–2.6). Conclusions The three unhealthy behaviors were associated prospectively with each other. The results suggest that prevention efforts should target weight concerns and multiple risk behaviors.

The bombardment of C with 100 keV W at normal incidence is studied as a function of the incident W fluence experimentally and by computer simulation with the program TRIDYN. Calculated oscillations in the amount of retained W and in the target weight change are confirmed experimentally.

This experiment was conducted over an 18-week period to determine the effects of initiating a skip-a-day (SAD) feed restriction program at 2, 4, and 6 weeks of age on male broiler breeders. For each of the SAD treatments, feed intake was manipulated so that the breeder's recommended target weight was reached by all groups at 18 weeks of age. Males were evaluated for shank and keel length and head width at 7 and 18 weeks of age. The results of this experiment show that starting a SAD feeding program at 2, 4, or 6 weeks of age will decrease shank and keel length as well as head width. Feed restriction affected keel length and head width in a very similar manner; shank length was not as sensitive to the time of initiation of the SAD feed restriction program.

Current status of DONUT(FNAL/E872) is reported. We have exposed emuslion target in '97 fixed target run and accumulated neutrino events corresponding to the total proton exposure of ∼ 4.55 × 1017 800GeV protons and the target weight of ∼ 250kg. In the preliminary analysis, we have located 34 neutrino interactions in Emulsion target and found one event which can be explained as ν τ ( ν τ ) + N → τ − (τ + ) + X followed by τ − → e − + ν τ + ν e or τ + → e; + + ν e + ν τ .

Two experiments were conduct to determine the effect of changing time of feeding starter (SD), grower (GD), and finisher (FD) diets on live performance and carcass composition of broilers grown to approximately 1 kg. In Experiment 1, SD were fed to 7, 14, or 21 days, with combinations of GD and FD fed to 28 days. In Experiment 2, SD were fed to 7, 14, or 21 days with GD subsequently fed to 28 days. Male broilers grown to 28 days attained the desired weight of 1 kg on all feeding programs. Inclusion of FD from 21 to 28 days resulted in a reduction in body weight, a deterioration in feed conversion and calorie utilization, and an increase in abdominal fat. Different feeding strategies did not affect carcass yield. Using typical poultry industry diets, optimum time of feeding SD for birds grown to a target weight of 1 kg appear to be no more than 14 days and may lie between 7 and 14 days. Based on typical cost differences between SD and GD, the economic impact of changing from SD to GD at earlier ages may be considerable. Use of diets of different nutrient content may alter these recommendations.

Selection for high and low threshold weight for onset of lay (ThrWtLay), carried out in a broiler line over six generations, was previously found to increase reproductive performance in the low line (LL). Because of the potential importance of this effect, a two-generation replication of the original experiment was carried out using a modern broiler line. Selection was on the basis of ThrWtLay, measured as body weight at first egg, following gradual release from feed restriction. The total response to selection over two generations was 382 g, giving a realized heritability of .42. The difference in 6-wk body weight of the two lines was +19 g in favor (P > .05) of the high line (HL). Reproductive performance was measured in the S2 generation and in the first (R1) generation of relaxed selection. On the average, age at first egg of LL was 17.6 d earlier, and prepeak, postpeak, and total egg production of LL to a fixed age was 9.9, 1.1, and 11.1 eggs greater, respectively, than that of HL. The differences in age at first egg, prepeak, and total egg production were significant; those in postpeak production were not. There was a difference of 1.1 g in favor (P > .05) of HL for egg weight. Thus, the results of this short-term selection experiment are broadly consistent with those of the original, long-term selection. Namely, ThrWtLay responded strongly to selection, with a powerful accompanied response in age at onset of lay and in prepeak egg production, and only a small effect on 6-wk body weight. However, in contrast to the results obtained previously, LL in the present experiment showed only a small increase (P > .05) in postpeak production relative to HL. Nevertheless, although an effect on postpeak production was not obtained in the present experiment, the results do provide general support for the previously expressed view that selection for early onset of lay, on release from feed restriction, may provide a means of increasing photoperiodic drive and consequent reproductive performance of broiler breeders.

Thirty-nine dogs were assigned to four treatment groups for weight loss. Breed, sex and initial body condition were similar across groups. Treatments included 0, 25, 40 or 50% caloric restriction, based on calculated maintenance energy requirements for the dog's estimated ideal body weight. True maintenance energy requirements and actual caloric restriction were determined retrospectively. When the dogs reached their target weight or when 16 weeks on restriction were completed, they were switched to either maintenance or ad libitum feeding. The changes in their behavior between the end of caloric restriction and the first week off restriction, and between baseline data collected before caloric restriction and data collected 10 months after the initiation of behavioral observations (5–9 months after the end of caloric restriction) were evaluated. Minimal changes in activity and time-budgets occurred as a consequence of transition from restriction to non-restriction. Slightly more change occurred between baseline and 10 months, but changes were still not substantial. Coprophagy was not altered by diet. Aggression decreased significantly between baseline and 10 months, in spite of intervening periods of the physical stress of caloric restriction.

The inadequacies of existing methods for expressing the results of weight reduction programs have been discussed and a new reduction index has been derived. The index requires that a target weight be established for each patient at the beginning of every dietary regimen. The target weight may be chosen from standard tables, from “ideal weight” tables, or arbitrarily on the basis of the physician's judgment. The new index is obtained by multiplying the per cent of excess weight loss by the relative initial obesity. Its component terms are a product of two factors: (1) a reduction coefficient, which can be computed at the beginning of the dieting, and (2) the amount of weight lost during the active dieting. The value of the reduction coefficient will characterize the patient's initial obese status. The reduction index will characterize the accomplishment in weight reduction. Individual “success” is considered to have been achieved by patients who obtain a reduction index of 60 or higher. The total results of a dietary regimen may then be expressed by stating the percentage of the patients who obtained reduction indices of 60 or higher. The data obtained in a group of 106 dieting patients have been expressed in terms of existing methods of documenting weight loss, and the use of the new reduction index in this group has been demonstrated. The results of a series of different dietary programs have been compared using the reduction index and other parameters of measurement. It is suggested that the reduction index be adopted as a standard for expressing the data of weight reduction regimens in order that valid comparison can be given to the results of different dietary programs.

Overweight patients on a token economy psychiatric ward were reinforced with tokens, off-ward privileges and social approval for meeting a weight-loss criterion of 3 lb. per week. The progress of two subjects, both chronic paranoid schizophrenics, is described. One subject began at 263 lb. and consistently lost weight until he had reached a target weight of 200 lb. in 28 weeks. The other began at 201 lb. and reached his target weight of 170 lb. in 26 weeks. The procedure appears to be an effective means of modifying the behavior of overweight psychiatric patients.

The past 10 yr have witnessed a remarkable proliferation of behavioral strategies for weight reduction. Treatment studies have reported on the effectiveness of these strategies, however, using a variety of outcome measures, thereby making cross-study comparisons difficult at best. The Weight-Reduction Index (RI), an algebraic combination of weight lost, initial weight, surplus weight, and target weight, has been proposed as a more widely applicable dependent measure and has been used in several studies. The RI, however, appears to be inordinately influenced by initial degree of obesity and duration of treatment. This and other drawbacks regarding its feasibility as a cross-study index are discussed, along with suggestions for more suitable indices.

In this paper we suggest that a necessary criterion for good outcome in anorexia nervosa is “biological maturity”. This can only be arrived at through the achievement and maintenance of weight levels which exceed a critical threshold necessary for normal hypothalamic pituitary function (at least with respect to gonadotrophic function). The clinical distinction between this critical threshold weight and target weight for treatment (the normal weight for an individual of that height, age and sex) is discussed. Within this concept 3 groups are singled out as following a potentially deviant course – the premorbidly obese, those with a particularly early onset and those who maintain normal weight but continue to avoid carbohydrate. Male patients, those who get married whilst anorexic, lower social class patients and patients who vomit are seen as being at special risk as are those whose fathers are obsessional or whose fathers become depressed during the course of treatment. Extroversion and “hysterical” features favour a good outcome. Some impressions as to the theoretical, clinical and therapeutic implications of these findings are outlined.