A model of mammalian energetics and growth: model development

A simple mechanistic model of animal growth based on a representation of en ergy dynamics is presented. The model formulates an animal which generates its own demand for energy (according its environment, genetics, and demands placed on it), and performs according the energy supplied to it. By using the same formulation for both fetal and post-natal stages, the model gives a continuous description of growth from conception to maturity? and allows the same genetic parameters to govern all stages of development. Thus it ca n be used to study the effects of changes to different selection pathways o n growth and its efficiency. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights rese rved.