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Environmental Sciences Europe
Fig. 4 | Environmental Sciences Europe

Fig. 4

From: Critical discussion of the current environmental risk assessment (ERA) of veterinary medicinal products (VMPs) in the European Union, considering changes in animal husbandry

Fig. 4

Exemplary growth curves of dairy cows. A Growth rate of cows. The initial linear daily gain is followed by a transition, ultimately reaching a plateau, where cows are fully grown, with zero growth rate and a weight that equals their final adult body weight. B Estimation of the average body weight during the linear daily gain phase. C Underestimation of the average body weight. This occurs when the transition time is included in the calculation of the average body weight. D–F Changes (black) compared with the standard growth curve (gray, dashed) in animal production are mirrored as changes in the growth curve: a taller shape of the animals increases the maximum body weight (D); a higher functional longevity increases the proportion of time at fully grown (E); and a lower growth rate enhances the proportion of time at linear growth (F)

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