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Estimation of the Maintenance Energy Requirements of Beef Cattle and Lambs

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 November 2021

R.W.J. Steen
Affiliation:
Agricultural Research Institute of Northern Ireland, Hillsborough, Co. Down, BT26 6DR
L.E.R. Dawson
Affiliation:
Agricultural Research Institute of Northern Ireland, Hillsborough, Co. Down, BT26 6DR
N. Lavery
Affiliation:
Agricultural Research Institute of Northern Ireland, Hillsborough, Co. Down, BT26 6DR
D.E. Kirkpatrick
Affiliation:
Agricultural Research Institute of Northern Ireland, Hillsborough, Co. Down, BT26 6DR
S.D. Johnston
Affiliation:
Agricultural Research Institute of Northern Ireland, Hillsborough, Co. Down, BT26 6DR
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Extract

The maintenance energy requirement of an animal can be defined as the daily metabolisable energy (ME) intake at which it is in zero energy balance. Maintenance energy requirements can be estimated either by measuring fasting metabolism or from a regression relationship between ME intake and energy retention for a number of animals given a range of ME intakes. However maintenance energy requirements may vary according to the composition of the diet, as higher intakes of high-fibre diets have promoted greater rates of gut metabolism than lower intakes of low-fibre diets. In the present study maintenance energy requirements of beef cattle and lambs have been estimated by regressions between ME intake and energy retention using data from a series of studies involving diets based on grass silage or fresh grass and concentrates.

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Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1997

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References

Agricultural Research Council 1980. The Nutrient Requirements of Ruminant Livestock. Commonwealth Agricultural Bureaux, Slough.Google Scholar