The energy maintenance requirement of growing pigs of different sexes given normal and high protein diets. 1. Experiments in castrates

Energy retention was measured alternately at 12 barrows, fattening hybrids of line 150 (150 X (L X E], at maintenance level (4 periods) and growth feeding (5 periods) in the live weight range between 32 and 134 kg, 6 animals each received rations with 17 and 45% crude protein resp. during the complete experimental period. The nutrition level did not have a significant influence on the digestibility level of the feed. The experiments carried out at maintenance level showed that the maintenance requirement of metabolizable energy in the experiments with 17% crude protein in the ration was 941, in the experiments with 45% crude protein in the ration 913kJ ME/kg LW0.62 and on average 927 kJ ME/kg LW0.62. Including the experiments with growth feeding one can conclude from a regression analysis, largely in agreement with the measured values, that 955 kJ ME/kg LW0.62 is the energy maintenance requirement. These values of maintenance requirement are by 50% higher than those derived from previous measurings. In contrast to expectations, the increase of protein concentration in the ration did not result in a higher energy maintenance requirement. The utilization of metabolizable energy for retention amounted to 74% for rations with a normal protein content and to 65% for those with a high protein content. The multiply regressive evaluation showed a utilization of metabolizable energy for fat retention of 79% and for protein retention of 53%.     

The energy maintenance requirement of growing pigs of different sexes give normal and high protein diets. 2. Experiments in sows

Six animals each out of 12 female fattening hybrids (150 X (L X E] were given rations containing 17 or 45% crude protein resp. 4 periods of growth feeding alternated with 5 periods of maintenance feeding in the live weight range between 33 and 146 kg. The feeding level did not have an influence on the level of digestibility. From the experiments with 17% crude protein in the ration 1004 and from those with 45% crude protein 947, on average 977 kJ metabolizable energy per kg LW0.62 in the maintenance periods and 980 in the growth periods were derived as maintenance requirement of metabolizable energy. These values for maintenance requirement are by 50% higher than those in previous experiments of our work team. In contrast to expectations, energy maintenance requirement did not grow due to the increase of the protein content of the rations. The utilization of metabolizable energy for retention was 73% for rations with a normal protein content and 66% for those with a high protein content. The partial utilization of metabolizable energy for fat retention was ascertained as 83% and as 49% for protein retention by means of multiply regressive evaluation.     

The energy metabolism of growing swine in the body weight range of 10-50 kg. 2. Nitrogen and energy metabolism

Investigations were carried out about nitrogen and energy metabolism feeding rations with 17-24 and 44-47% crude protein content on maintenance and growing level to castrated male hybrid pigs of line 150. In growing periods the N deposition amounted to 10 g/animal.d (15 kg live weight), 18 g/animal.d (30 kg LW) and 21 g/animal.d (greater than 40 kg LW) on lower protein feeding level. In experiments with higher protein feeding level the corresponding results were 17, 22 and 22 g N deposition/animal.d. The partial utilization of metabolizable energy for deposition amounted to 70% for the rations with 17-24% protein content and to 59% for the rations with 44-47% protein content, without correlation to the animals development and the alternation in the protein feeding level. The results of regression analysis about maintenance requirement were 814, 775 and 806 kJ metabolizable energy/kg LW0.62.d in trials feeding rations with 17-24% crude protein content as well as 764, 846 and 818 kJ metabolizable energy/kg LW0,62.d in trials feeding rations with 44-47% crude protein content. 1,5-1,8 MJ metabolizable energy were used per MJ protein energy deposition and 1,3-1,4 MJ per MJ fat energy deposition respectively. The energy deposition per kg live weight gain amounted to values between 9 (10 kg LW) and 18 MJ (60 kg LW).     

The energy preservation requirements of growing pigs of different sexes fed normal and high protein diets. 5. Comparison with the results obtained from castrated pigs, sows and boars

In one experiment each with castrated pigs, sows and boars (hybrid pigs of line 150), two groups of six animals received rations containing 17 and 45% crude protein resp. over the complete test period from 35 to 130 kg (castrated pigs), 150 kg (sows), 170 kg live weight (boars) and passed alternatively through a total of 60 metabolism periods on growth and 48 on maintenance level. There were significant differences between the 3 categories of animals with regard to energy maintenance requirement in the relation of 100:105:110 for castrated pigs less than sows less than boars. In contrast to the estimated values derived from previous studies for energetic maintenance requirement of 650 kJ/kg LW0.62.d the measured values for all 3 animal categories are by approximately 50% higher. The protein content did not have an influence on the maintenance requirement of metabolizable energy of the animals. The utilization of metabolizable energy of the two rations for body energy retention corresponds to the expectations with regard to its dependence on nutrients. The requirement of metabolizable energy for protein and fat retention is 1.7:1.0. The energy content of the weight gain of boars was, on average, 85% of that of castrated pigs and sows. The studies of blood parameters did not show any deviations in the parameters tested.     

The energetic utilization of rations with steamed potatoes in growing swine]

The energetic utilization of rations with steamed potatoes (40 and 50% of DM of ration) was measured in 8 growing pigs, live weight 30-70 kg by means of respiration experimental techniques. The experiments were carried out using the difference method (3 periods feeding basal diet and 3 periods feeding basal diet plus potatoes). The digestibility of energy of the steamed potatoes amounted to 94%, that of organic substances 96% and that of crude protein 77%. The metabolizable energy amounted to 16.1 and the energy deposition to 12.0 MJ/kg DM of steamed potatoes, 74.5% utilization respectively. The results in growing pigs are very similar to the results in adult pigs.     

The energetic utilization of rations with dried concentrates, potatoes, sugar beets, apple pectin and cane sugar by growing, intact and ileorectostomized swine. 1. Results in swine with ileorectal anastomoses

Rations with dried feedstuffs and rations with between 30 and 50% raw potatoes in the dry matter as well as steamed potatoes and sugar beets, sucrose and apple pectin were tested in measurings of the total metabolism in growing pigs with ileo-rectal anastomoses. The prececal digestibility of the energy of the rations ranged between 42% (rations with raw potatoes) and 79% (rations with sucrose). The digestibility of the rations with a 50% quota of steamed potatoes was better by 30%--units than that of rations with raw potatoes. In addition to crude nutrient digestibility, data are given on the digestibility of starch, water soluble carbohydrates and pectin. The wide variation in the N retention of 6-25 g/animal.day can only be partly connected with energy retention. Urine energy amounted to between 2.5 and 5% of gross energy. The average utilization of metabolizable energy amounted to 69.4%. A connection is to be seen with the value of energy maintenance requirement of 646 kJ retention energy/kg LW0.62.d.     

Dependence of energy maintenance requirements on nutrients in rats. 3. Effect of the protein levels of food on the energy maintenance requirements of growing rats

In addition to earlier experiments with growing rats on the protein levels 10, 25 and 40% crude protein in the dry matter of the feed (Hoffmann et al., 1982 a), two groups of nine male Wistar rats each received feed mixtures with 6 or 25% crude protein resp. and energy metabolism on the energy maintenance level in an N equilibrium or with a positive N balance resp. were measured on 6 levels of live weight between 65 and 250 g and additionally also at subsequent fasting day. Energy maintenance requirement on average of the 6 periods amounted to 381 and 377 kJ metabolizable energy/kg W 0.75 X d on a low or middle protein level resp. and thus did not show changes at the decrease of N retention to values of about zero even with regard to different ATP formation capacities of the nutrients.     

The energy metabolism of growing swine in the liveweight range of 10-50 kg. I. Study design, feed intake and digestibility

Studies of the energy metabolism at maintenance and growth levels after the feeding of rations with a crude protein content of 17-24% and 44-47% resp. were carried out with hybrid pigs of line 150 in the live weight range between 10 and approximately 50 kg. This paper gives information on the methods and the outlay of the experiment and presents results concerning feed intake, live weight development and digestibility. Feed intake increased on average with growing live weight by 30-35 g DM/kg live weight. Feed conversion ranged from 1.2 to 1.8 kg DM/kg live weight gain in the first period and from 2.3 to 3.2 kg DM/kg live weight gain in the last period. The digestibility of the energy in the rations with a crude protein content of between 17 and 24% averaged 80% and that of the rations with a crude protein content of 44-47% averaged 86%. In the course of ontogenetic development the digestibility increased up to about 30 kg LW. The influence of the nutritional level on the level of digestibility was unequal in the experiments. In one experiment a decrease (1% unit) and in two experiments an increase (1-3% units) of the digestibility after the feeding of growth level in contrast to maintenance level could be observed. The change of rations with a varying protein content did not result in an influence on the digestibility level in comparison with the constant feeding of one ration.     

Joint research on the precise determination of the energy and protein requirements of fattening pigs. 2. Energy and nitrogen metabolism of fattening hybrids in the fattening range of 30 to 120 kg

In 3 experiments a total of 242 total metabolism experiments with ad libitum feeding (experiment 1), 75% (experiment 2) and 62% (experiment 3) of the energy level of the 1st experiment and approximately equal protein and amino acid doses in experiments 1-3 were carried out with 8 castrated male fattening hybrids each (large white X land race pig) X line 150) in the live weight range between 30 and 120 kg. On average, feed intake over the whole live weight range was 2.24; 1.79 and 1.50 kg/animal and day, the corresponding daily live weight gain was 729, 533 and 396 g. With regard to the digestibility of the energy and the nutrients and the metabolisable energy in % of the gross energy there was no relation to the development of the animals. The intake of metabolisable energy per kg live weight decreased with ad libitum feeding and with the advancing development at the end of the experiment in contrast to the beginning of the experiment to 53%, energy retention to 56%. The utilisation of metabolisable energy for body energy retention, taking account of a maintenance requirement of 450 kJ/kg live weight 0,62 on the average of the 3 experiments was 68.4 +/- 1.9, 70.3 +/- 2.0 and 64.3 +/- 2.6%. Energy retention in experiments 1 to 3 amounted to 8.6, 6.8 and 5.3 MJ at the beginning and to 18.1, 12.2 and 8.0 MJ per animal and day at the end of the experiment. Protein energy retention of the pigs (live weight 40 kg) was 26% of the total energy retention in experiments 1 and 2 and 49% in experiment 3. In experiments 1 and 3 protein retention decreased to 15% of the total energy retention, in experiment 2 protein retention remained constantly at 22% between 60 and 110 kg live weight and then decreased to 18%. Consequently, the N-balances were 23-16 g, 16-20 g and 16-9 g/animal and day. The chemical composition of the carcasses was strongly influenced by the level of nutrition. At the beginning of the experiment the protein content averaged between 49 and 57% and the total fat content between 31 and 38% of the dry matter. At the end of the experiment the carcasses of the animals from experiments 1-3 had crude protein contents of 28, 33 and 42% and total fat contents of 66, 61 and 50% of the dry matter.     

Energy metabolism and energy requirements of growing boars

The nitrogen and energy metabolism and the energy consumption of growing boars were measured in 2 metabolic and feeding trials using 8 parallel animals each. The studies covered the 30 to 150 kg live weight range. The growth intensity of the boars was found strongly influenced by the protein level of the ration. At a crude protein level of 18% in the ration, the boars gained, on the average, 780 g per day during the fattening period under study. Energy conversion was found to decline as the protein amount went up. The energy expediture for protein deposition was estimated at 1.8 to 2.0 kcal metabolizable energy per kg deposited. The energy and feed expenditures were calculated to be 7.1 Mcal net energy--fat retention for the whole development period or 3.0 kg dry matter per kg live weight. Boars proved to have an energy requirement differing from that of barrows and gilts; equations are presented for derivation.     

Energy metabolism of growing broilers in relation to the environmental temperature

7 experiments with 6 chickens each (origin Tetra B) in the live weight range between greater than 100 and less than 300 g and up to 1800 g were carried out at environmental temperatures (ET) of 35, 30, 25 (2 experiments) 20 (2 experiments) and 15 degrees C. In the course of each experiment the chickens alternatively received feed mixtures containing 20 and 40% crude protein (3 animals/variant) for maintenance and weight gain (semi ad libitum). Energy metabolism was measured according to indirect calorimetry over a total of 645 metabolism periods. In the temperature range studied there was no compensation between thermoregulatory heat and heat from other metabolic processes. The partial utilization of metabolizable energy for energy retention in the body was independent of ET and remained in the limits between 71 and 73%. Energy utilization was dependent on the protein content of the feed. It decreased from 75 to 69% with the increase of the protein content from 20 to 40%. Energy requirement for protein retention varied between 1.67 and 1.89 kJ metabolizable energy/kJ and was independent of ET. Energy requirement (metabolizable energy) for the maintenance of the energy balance was independent of the protein content of the feed. It increased from 433 kJ/kg LW0.75.d at 35 degrees C to 693 kJ/kg LW0.75.d at 15 degrees C ET. The relationship between heat production and ET is parabolic. The thermoneutral temperature decreased from 35 to 25 degrees C in the course of development. In the live weight range of 300-500 g thermoregulatory heat production had its maximum with 19 kJ/kg LW0.75.d.K and decreased in the further development to 10-13 kJ/kg LW0.75.d.K.     

The energy metabolism of swine at a feed level of "live weight equilibrium"

10 castrated pigs each of a live weight (LW) of 35 kg and 115 kg were fed over 28 and 40 days resp. in a way that a live weight equilibrium was achieved. The pigs were kept individually and at a low mobility on perforated floors of zinc-plated sheet iron at an air temperature of 19 degrees C. The weighing 35 kg received 668 kJ ME/kg LW 0.75 per day and one half of the animals weighing 115 kg 635 kJ ME/kg LW 0.75 in a diet consisting of barley and bran. The other half of the animals weighing 115 kg received 514 kJ ME/kg LW 0.75 per day in a ration consisting barley, bran and dried skim milk. The crude protein content of the rations was 12.6 and 17.1% resp. of the DM, the crude fibre content amounted to 8-10% of the DM. Energy excretion in faeces and urine was calorimetrically measured. Up to the end of the experiment LW and the weight of the empty body (without ingesta) remained unchanged. For the measuring of energy retention, 4-5 zero animals each were analysed before the experiments. The pigs weighing 35 kg showed a daily loss of 39 g fat in the course of the 40-day experiment. The calculation of the energy balance showed that an intake of 790 kJ ME/kg LW 0.75 was necessary. This maintenance requirement, rather high in comparison with values from literature, can be explained with the emission of body heat on sheet iron floors and a crude fibre content of 9% in the rations. The pigs of the two groups of 115 kg LW were at an energy equilibrium at both nutrition levels. The lower maintenance requirement of the group fed with dried skim milk cannot exclusively be explained by the higher energetic utilization of the milk protein in the ration. The reason should be the more advanced age of the animals of the milk group. Although they had nearly the same live weight, their empty bodies contained 41% fat, the pigs of the barley/bran group, however, only 34%, both before and after the experiment.     

Nutrient dependence of energy conservation requirements in rats. 4. The influence of protein levels of food on energy conservation requirements of rats during growth and after conclusion of the intensive growth phase

Albino rats bred in the institute (Wistar line) divided into 3 groups of 9 animals each received, beginning at the age of 4 weeks, feed mixtures with 10, 40 and 70% protein in the rations over a period of 24 weeks divided into 14 subperiods of study. The feed mixture changed cyclically for the groups of animals after each sub-period. Every period was divided into a growth period (8 days) with the rats kept in metabolism cages and a period of feeding on maintenance level (4 days) with the rats kept in respiration chambers. In both periods the temperature was kept constant at 30 degrees C. On 3 days of feeding on the maintenance level the metabolism parameters of energy, C and N metabolism were measured and energy maintenance requirement was ascertained. Both the energy maintenance requirement of the growing rats (up to 200 g live weight) and that of the nearly fully grown and fully grown rats resp. (greater than 200 g live weight) significantly depended on the nutrient composition of the feed mixtures supplied. It increased with the increasing protein and simultaneously decreasing carbohydrate quotas in the feed. On an average of the studies the rats had, in the sequence of 10, 40 and 70% protein content, an energy maintenance requirement of 383 +/- 31 (n = 105), 415 +/- 31 (n = 106) and 459 +/- 36 kJ metabolizable energy/kg LW0.75.d (n = 102). Energy maintenance requirement behaved relatively like 100:108:120. Based on the fact that energy maintenance requirement may be considered the requirement of ATP, relative expectancy values for energy maintenance requirement can be calculated with the energetic efficiency of the ATP synthesis (kJ metabolizable energy/Mol ATP gain) in nutrient catabolism from the relation of the experimentally ascertained nutrient metabolism at a variant supply of protein of 100:110:118. The hypothesis that the efficiency of ATP synthesis in the catabolism of the main nutrients supplying energy can be considered a relative measure of the dependence of the energy maintenance requirement on nutrient composition has been confirmed in this experiment. Different findings in earlier experiments raise the question if those findings were influenced by adaptation effects. An experimental solution of this question is considered important.     

Growth studies of bulls of the black pied dairy cattle breed during low feed levels. 3. Anabolism and energy metabolism at empty body weight at slaughter

In two long-term individual feeding experiments with rations very rich in roughage, nutrient and energy retention in the course of live weight development of black-and-white dairy bulls were determined. For this purpose, a total of 123 animals were slaughtered at the age of 5, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21 and 24 months, and the total body was analysed of 97 animals. The ascertained protein, fat and energy retention per day showed a clear dependence of the implemented level of nutrition. The results received compare well with the findings of earlier studies (PIEPER et al., 1984a). At a nutrition level (maintenance = 1.0) of 1.38 = 473 g gain of empty body [table: see text] at a nutrition level of 1.48 [context: see table] live weight range between 150 and 450 kg. The dynamics of the nutrient and energy retention in the course of live weight development is depicted in tables.     

Measuring energy turnover in the adult swine during feeding of rations with potato starch, potatoes, beets, pressed shreds and coarse fodder as supplements to a basic ration. 1. Energy turnover and energy utilization

25 rations with a wide variation of the content of various carbohydrates (crude fibre 36-185; water-soluble carbohydrates 25-306, starch 272-683 g/kg DM) were fed to male castrates (n = 8) of a live weight between 90 and 180 kg, and energy metabolism was measured. The rations were composed of a cereal basic ration and various feed-stuffs (potato starch-raw and soaked) potatoes (raw and steamed), sugar beet and products from it, maize pellets, dried roughage lucerne, clover, lupin, grass, rye straw meal) as supplements. The digestibility and metabolisability of the energy of the rations ranged between 88 and 62 or 86 and 60% resp. Between 2 and 4% of the consumed energy were lost in urine. The partial utilization of the metabolizable energy of the rations varied between 80% (processed supplement of potato starch) and 52% (supplement of rye straw). The rations with supplements of dried roughage were relatively well energetically utilized-between 63 and 70%. A regressively calculated difference of 17%-units was regressively calculated between the utilization of metabolizable energy of either precaecal or postileal origin.     

Energy and protein concentration of broiler rations in Cuba. 4. Female broilers in the summer

A total of 1,900 female broilers of the variety White Plymouth Rock was tested with 4 energy concentrations (10.5, 11.5, 12.6 and 13.6 MJ metabolizable energy/kg feed) and 4 protein concentrations (15.0, 17.5, 20.0 and 22.5% CP) in their first 56 days of life in 16 test groups. The animals were kept in cages and were directly exposed to the natural Cuban summer temperatures from their 15th day of life onwards. As every test group was run with 6 repetitions, the results could be variance analytically calculated. In a comparison of male and female broilers in summer one can state that the female animals achieved a lower intake of feed, energy and crude protein as well as a lower live weight than the male animals. In winter the female broilers consumed between 15.7 and 36.4% more feed and achieved a live weight gain between 11.1 and 43% higher than in summer. It could be shown that the maximum live weight of the female broilers could be achieved in summer if rations containing 12.6 MJ metabolizable energy and 20% CP are fed in a one-phase feeding system.     

Energy balances of lactating sows in relation to feeding level and stage of lactation

Twelve crossbred sows were used in an energy balance study to estimate energetic efficiency of milk production from feed. Balances were made from 7 to 14 d and from 18 to 25 d of lactation. Two feeding levels were applied (high and low). The low level (L) was meant to supply energy slightly above maintenance, with energy needed for milk to be derived from body reserves. The high level (H) was meant to supply sufficient energy for maintenance and for milk production. The low-level animals received 2.5 to 2.6 kg of feed/d and the high level animals 4.8 to 6 kg/d. The loss of weight of sows during lactation depended more on feeding level than on stage of lactation. A high level of feeding to sows resulted in heavier piglets compared with the low feeding level (significant after 10 d). At 24 d of age piglets with the high-feeding-level sows weighed 7.5 kg and those with the low-level sows, 5.7 kg. At the high level, animals excreted 1,200 to 2,800 kcal more milk energy per day than the low-level animals. Energy for milk from feed was produced with an efficiency of 67 to 69% with a maintenance requirement of 112 to 125 kcal metabolizable energy (ME) X W-.75 X d-1. Efficiency of milk production from feed was calculated as 62% and the maintenance requirement was 68 kcal. In this calculation, milk was corrected toward zero energy balance. Another way of calculating this efficiency after correcting feed toward zero energy balance resulted in estimates of 68% for efficiency and of 88 kcal ME X W-.75 X d-1 for maintenance requirement. From these data it was derived that, for each piglet, the sow needed to receive .5 to .6 kg of extra feed (ME content 3,000 kcal/kg) per day to cover milk production. Level of metabolic rate for nursing piglets was estimated as 97 kcal ME X W-.75 X d-1 for maintenance and, in addition, .195 kcal/kcal extra of milk intake above maintenance.     

The effect of the protein level of feed on the energy maintenance requirement of rats during the course of growth and after the conclusion of the intensive growth phase using different feeding regimens

In two experiments with male Wistar rats energy metabolism was measured on the feeding level of maintenance in the course of growth and in various adult periods after the application of feed mixtures with various protein-carbohydrate quotas (10, 40 and 70% crude protein) according to two different feeding regimes. While there was a change of protein levels between the animal groups in periods 1 to 3 and 8 to 10 from one period to the other, the protein levels in periods 4 to 7 and 11 to 13 remained the same for each animal group. Irrespective of the feeding regime, a dependence of the energy maintenance requirement on the nutrients according to the expected values was measured, which result from the different efficiency of ATP synthesis in the oxidative degradation of the nutrients. On an average of the periods maintenance requirement amounted to 357 +/- 21, 399 +/- 16 and 443 +/- 28 kJ/kg LW0.75.d (experiment 1) and 350 +/- 29, 383 +/- 34 and 442 +/- 30 kJ/kg LW0.75.d (experiment 2) for 10, 40 and 70% crude protein in the feed. The relation between the maintenance requirement values was 100:112:124 and 100:109:126. This contrasts with the relative expected values of 100:108:115 and 100:109:116.     

The energy requirement of heifers. 4. Comparison of the digestibility and rumen physiologic parameters in heifers and full-grown sheep

In 159 comparative studies with fully grown sheep and heifers of the digestibility and of rumen physiologic values at a variation of the feed ration in the crude fibre content between 112 and 318 g, in the crude protein content between 94 and 194 g and in the content of nitrogen free extractive between 484 and 641 g/kg DM is provided that the digestibility of energy in heifers was, on average, 4 digestibility units lower than in sheep. The corresponding values for the digestibility of crude protein and crude fibre are 12 and 3.5 digestibility units. Due to the lower methane energy excretion of the heifers the difference at the level of metabolizable energy is reduced to 1.5% of the gross energy. The level of the differences in digestibility is influenced by the development of the young cattle and the composition of the rations. In young cattle of the live weight range between 100 and 150 kg the digestibility of the energy is 6-8 units lower than in sheep. A higher crude fibre content in the ration diminishes the difference in the digestibility of energy and the nutrients between the two animal species.     

Nutrient requirements of the high yielding cow

Critical evidence on the nutrient requirements of the high yielding dairy cow (7000 + kg/lactation) is very limited. A consensus of this evidence plus the histories of well-documented individual animals indicates the high yields to have been achieved without recourse to abnormally high rates of feeding concentrates/kg milk produced. Such animals as these have above average food intakes with an extra 0.16 kg dry matter/additional kg milk produced. A high standard of management — including for instance frequent feeding per day — favours greater food intakes. Even so, their intakes do not match the need for nutrients. Hence high energy density rations (12.5 MJ metabolizable energy with 150–170 g crude protein/kg dry matter) are necessary and the large milk output is accompanied by mobilization of body reserves to bridge the gap between intake of, and need for, nutrients. This role of body reserves and the need to extend intakes as far as possible must be catered for in the nutrition and management, both current and long term of the cow, as must the risks of metabolic disorders attendant on such high outputs.