01782nam a2200241 a 450000100080000000500110000800800410001902400510006010000170011124500420012826001470017052010760031765000180139365000100141165000100142165000130143165000160144465000100146070000180147070000130148870000200150170000190152115330432025-02-05       1998    bl uuuu     u00u1 u    #d7 ahttps://doi.org/10.1017/S17527562005969992DOI1 aLEWIS, R. M.  aA description of the growth of sheep.  aIn: BRITISH SOCIETY OF ANIMAL SCIENCE, 1998, Scarborough, UK. Proceedings... Medlothian: British Society of Animal Science, 1998. p. 47.c1998  aThe idea that an animal of a given kind has, and grows to, a final or mature size is a useful one and several equations have been proposed that describe such growth to maturity (Winsor, 1932; Parks, 1982; Taylor, 1982). The Gompertz is one of these growth functions and describes in a comparatively simple, single equation the sigmoidal pattern of growth. It has 3 parameters, only 2 of which are important - mature size A and the rate parameter B. Estimates of A and B, however, are highly correlated. Considering A and B as a lumped parameter (AB) may overcome this problem. A Gompertz, or any other, growth function is not expected to describe all growth curves. When the environment (e.g., feed, housing) is non-limiting, it may provide a useful and succinct description of growth. The objectives of this study were to examine: (i) if the Gompertz equation adequately describes the growth of two genotypes of sheep under conditions designed to be non-limiting; and, (ii) if the lumped parameter AB has more desirable properties for estimation than A and B separately.  aAnimal growth  aLambs  aSheep  aCordeiro  aCrescimento  aOvino1 aEMMANS, G. C.1 aSIMM, G.1 aDINGWALL, W. S.1 aFITZSIMONS, J.