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Prediction of the Energy Requirements for Growth in Beef Cattle 1. The irrelevance of fasting metabolism

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

A. J. F. Webster ,
J. M. Brockway  and
J. S. Smith
A. J. F. Webster
Affiliation:
The Rowett Research Institute, Bucksburn, Aberdeen AB2 9SB
J. M. Brockway
Affiliation:
The Rowett Research Institute, Bucksburn, Aberdeen AB2 9SB
J. S. Smith
Affiliation:
The Rowett Research Institute, Bucksburn, Aberdeen AB2 9SB
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Summary

1. According to the Agricultural Research Council (1965) energy retention in cattle is predicted from metabolizable energy (ME) intake, the net availabilities of ME for maintenance (km) and for fattening (kf) and measurements made of fasting metabolism (F). The present experiments were designed to examine the validity of the use of F as a basis from which to predict energy retention.

2. Four British Friesian and four Aberdeen Angus steers were fed, from weaning to slaughter at about 450 kg, a barley-based, pelleted diet at two levels calculated to yield overall efficiencies of retention of ME of 20% and 10% respectively. Successive measurements were made of the energy balance of each animal at intervals of 4 to 8 weeks.

3. The metabolizability of the diet was measured for both sheep and cattle. In both species metabolizability was greater at the higher level of feeding. In sheep kf measured directly or estimated from metabolizability was 0·61.

4. Measured values for F in cattle agreed closely with values given by the Agricultural Research Council.

5. Basal metabolism in the growing animal (F') was predicted by extrapolation to zero intake of measurements made on animals in positive energy balance. Log F' during growth was proportional to log body weight0·73. Expressed in terms of the usual exponent of metabolic body size, F' was about 440 kJ/kg0·75 per 24 hr throughout growth. There were no major differences in F' attributable to breed or to level of food intake.

6. The results indicate that F is not a good basis from which to predict energy retention in steers.

Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Production , Volume 19 , Issue 2 , October 1974 , pp. 127 - 139
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1974

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References

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