Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-j824f Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-20T03:21:56.476Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Influence of body condition on maintenance energy requirements of Charolais cows

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

I. Ortigues
Affiliation:
Laboratoire Croissance et Métabolismes des Herbivores, INRA Theix, 63122 Saint-Genès Champanelle, France
M. Petit
Affiliation:
aboratoire Adaptation des Herbivores aux Milieux, INRA Theix, 63122 Saint-Genès Champanelle, France
J. Agabriel
Affiliation:
aboratoire Adaptation des Herbivores aux Milieux, INRA Theix, 63122 Saint-Genès Champanelle, France
Get access

Abstract

The objective of the experiment was to test whether maintenance energy requirements of non-lactating, non-pregnant beef cows increased with body fatness. Twelve Charolais cows were initially fed to attain either lean or fat body condition. Subsequently, over a period of 66 days food allowances were regularly adjusted for zero live-weight change. For the following 76 days, lean and fat cows received either 400 or 553 kJ metabolizable energy (ME) per kg initial live weight 0·75 per day, respectively. Fat cows maintained their body weight and composition whereas lean cows lost 296 g body weight, 221 g lipid and 65 g protein daily. Calculated maintenance energy requirements averaged 516 and 536kJ ME per kg live weight 0·75 per day for lean and fat cows respectively but were not significantly affected by body fatness. Diet dry matter, organic matter, crude protein and energy apparent digestibilities but not acid-detergent fibre digestibility were significantly higher in fat animals.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1993

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Agabriel, J., Giraud, J. M., Petit, M., Barboiron, C, Coulaud, G. and Decuq, F. 1986. Determination et utilisation de la note d'etat d'engraissement en elevage allaitant. Bulletin Technique du CRZV de Theix INRA 66: 4350.Google Scholar
Agabriel, J. and Petit, M. 1987. Recommandations alimentaires pour les vaches allaitantes. Bulletin Technique du CRZV de Theix, INRA 70:153166.Google Scholar
Agricultural Research Council. 1980. Nutrient requirements of ruminant livestock. Commonwealth Agricultural Bureaux, Slough.Google Scholar
Doreau, M., Robelin, J. and Lestrade, A. 1985. Effects of physiological state and body fatness on digestive tract weight and composition in the dairy cow. Livestock Production Science 12: 379385.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ferrell, C. L. and Jenkins, T. G. 1984. A note on energy requirements for maintenance of lean and fat Angus, Hereford and Simmental cows. Animal Production 39: 305309.Google Scholar
Graham, N. Me. 1964. Energetic efficiency of fattening sheep. II. Effects of undernutrition. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 15:113126.Google Scholar
Graham, N. Me. 1969. The influence of body weight (fatness) on the energetic efficiency of adult sheep. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 20: 375385.Google Scholar
Hohenboken, W. D., Hausser, E. R., Chapman, A. B. and Cundiff, L. V. 1972. Partitioning lactation TDN consumption in Herefords between maintenance, gain and milk production. Journal of Animal Science 34:152160.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Houghton, P. L., Lemanager, R. P., Hendrix, K. S., Moss, G. E. and Stewart, T. S. 1990. Effects of body composition pre- and postpartum energy intake and stage of production on energy utilization by beef cows. Journal of Animal Science 68: 14471456.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique. 1978. Alimentation des Ruminants. INRA Publications, Versailles.Google Scholar
Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique. 1988. Alimentation des bavins, ovins et caprins. INRA Publications, Paris.Google Scholar
Jenkins, T. G., Ferrell, C. L. and Cundiff, L. V. 1986. Relationship of components of the body among mature cows as related to size, lactation potential and possible effects on productivity. Animal Production 43: 245254.Google Scholar
Johnson, D. E. 1984. Maintenance requirements for beef cattle: importance and physiological and environmental causes of variation. In Beef cow efficiency forum, pp. 614. East Lansing, M. I. and Fort Collins, Co.Google Scholar
Klosterman, E. W., Sanford, L. G. and Parker, C. F. 1968. Effect of cow size and condition and ration protein content upon maintenance requirements of mature beef cows. Journal of Animal Science 27:242246.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Koong, L. J., Ferrell, C. L. and Nienaber, J. A. 1985. Assessment of interrelationships among levels of intake and production, organ size and fasting heat production in growing animals. Journal of Nutrition 115:13831390.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
McNiven, M. A. 1984. The effect of body fatness on energetic efficiency and fasting heat production in adult sheep. British Journal of Nutrition 51: 297304.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Marston, H. R. 1948. Energy transactions in the sheep. I. The basal heat production and heat increment. Australian Journal of Scientific Research 1:93129.Google Scholar
Oetzel, G. R., Berger, L. L., Hoffman, W. E., Parrett, D. F. and Parker, A. J. 1988. Assessment of protein and energy status of ewes. Nutrition Reports International 37:12451254.Google Scholar
Ortigues, I. 1991. [Adaptation of energy metabolism to undernutrition in ruminants. Quantification in whole animal and in individual body tissues.] Reproduction Nutrition Developpement 31: 593616.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ortigues, I., Petit, M., Agabriel, J. and Vermorel, M. 1993. Maintenance requirements in metabolizable energy of adult non-pregnant, non-lactating Charolais cows. Journal of Animal Science In press.Google Scholar
Reid, J. T. and Robb, J. 1972. Relationship of body composition to energy intake and energetic efficiency. Journal of Dairy Science 54:553564.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Robelin, J., Agabriel, J., Malterre, C. and Bonnemaire, J. 1990. Changes in body composition of mature dry cows of Holstein, Limousin and Charolais breeds during fattening. I. Skeleton, muscles, fatty tissues and offal. Livestock Production Science 25:199215CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Robelin, J., Chilliard, Y. and Agabriel, J. 1989. Estimation of body lipids and proteins of Holstein Charolais and Limousin cows by dilution technique and adipose cell size. In Energy metabolism of farm animals (ed. Honing, Y. van der and Close, W. H.), pp. 370373. Pudoc, Wageningen.Google Scholar
Russel, A. J. F. and Wright, I. A. 1983a. Factors affecting maintenance requirements of beef cows. Animal Production 37: 329334.Google Scholar
Russel, A. J. F. and Wright, I. A. 1983b. The use of blood metabolites in the determination of energy status in beef cows. Animal Production 37: 335343.Google Scholar
Statistical Analysis Systems Institute. 1987. SAS/STAT guide for personal computers. SAS Inst., Cary, NC.Google Scholar
Taylor, St C. S., Turner, H. G. and Young, G. B. 1981. Genetic control of equilibrium maintenance efficiency in cattle. Animal Production 33:179194.Google Scholar
Thompson, W. R., Meiske, J. C, Goodrich, R. D., Rust, J. R. and Byers, F. M. 1983. Influence of body composition on energy requirements of beef cows during winter. Journal ofAnimal Science 56:12411252.Google ScholarPubMed
Van Soest, P. J. and Wine, R. H. 1967. Use of detergents in the analysis of fibrous feeds. IV. Determination of plant cell-wall constituents. Journal of the Association of Official Analytical Chemists 50: 5055.Google Scholar
Wagner, J. J., Lusby, K. S., Oltjen, J. W., Rakestraw, J., Wetteman, R. P. and Walters, L. E. 1988. Carcass composition in mature Hereford cows: estimation and effect on daily metabolizable energy requirement during winter. Journal of Animal Science 66: 603612.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Webster, A. J. F. 1981. The energetic efficiency of metabolism. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society 40:121128.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wright, I. A. and Russel, A. J. F. 1984. The composition and energy content of empty body-weight change in mature cattle. Animal Production 39: 365369.Google Scholar
Young, B. A. 1991. Maintenance, environment and other factors. In Energy metabolism of farm animals (ed. C., Wenk and Boessinger, M.), pp. 462465. Institut fur Nutztierwissenschaften, Zurich.Google Scholar