Effects of energy and lasalocid on productivity of first-calf heifers

One hundred forty-three crossbred, fall-calving first-calf heifers were used to determine the effects of two levels of energy and two levels of lasalocid on cow-calf productivity. Diets fed for approximately 110 d prepartum were calculated to provide a daily intake of 15.3 (LE) or 18.0 (HE) Mcal ME; diets fed for approximately 130 d postpartum were calculated to provide a daily intake of 17.8 (LE) or 21.0 (HE) Mcal ME. Two supplements were fed with each energy level to provide a calculated 0 (C) or 200 mg.hd-1.d-1 lasalocid (L). Heifers fed HE gained .06 kg more (P = .08) per day prepartum than LE heifers. There was an interaction (P less than .05) between treatment and prepartum days on trial for heifer weight approximately 2 wk prepartum and body condition at calving. Energy had no effect on heifer weight at 2 wk prepartum or condition score at calving when estimated and compared at 90 d on trial. However, regression estimates for 130 d on trial showed that HE heifers would have been 19 kg heavier (P less than .001) and would have had .4 unit higher condition score (P less than .01) than LE heifers. Energy and lasalocid had no effect (P greater than .05) on hip height or pelvic area at calving or on calf birth weight, calving ease score or gestation length. Cows fed HE weighed 17 kg more (P less than .05) and had .5 unit higher (P less than .001) condition score than LE cows at approximately 130 d postpartum. Lasalocid had little effect on postpartum changes in weight or body condition. Lasalocid supplementation to the LE diet tended to increase milk production and calf weight, whereas supplementation to the HE diet did not. Feeding the LE diet decreased (P less than .05) cycling activity by 18 percentage points and decreased (P less than .01) overall pregnancy rate by 25 percentage points. Lasalocid had no influence on reproductive performance.     

Variation among twin beef cattle in maintenance energy requirements

The genetic variation in energy expenditures of cattle at fasting (FHP) and maintenance (MEm) was determined by using 12 pairs of monozygous twins at 20 mo of age. The pairs were of two breed types, eight Angus x Hereford (three steers, five heifers) and four Barzona x Hereford (three steers, one heifer). The heifers were 132 +/- 13 d pregnant at the time of measurement. The pairs were fed at 1.15 x maintenance energy requirements for a minimum of 30 d prior to heat production (HP) measurements in dual indirect respiration calorimetry chambers. The diet fed was cracked corn:alfalfa hay (45:55) with a determined ME of 2.47 +/- .02 Mcal/kg DM. This diet was fed individually for 7 d prior to and during two consecutive 22-h HP measurements. The animals then were fasted for 2 d and fasting heat production measurements (FHP) were made on d 3 and 4 of the fast. Metabolizable energy required for MEm was calculated iteratively by assuming a semi-log relationship between HP and metabolizable energy intake. There were no differences (P greater than .10) in measured energy expenditures due to different breed type. The FHP and efficiency of ME use for MEm (Km) were similar between sexes, although heifers had lower (P less than .025) MEm than steers. Twin pair effects were detected for FHP (P less than .005) and MEm (P less than .05) but not for Km. Broad sense heritability estimates were calculated as the intraclass correlation between members of monozygous twin pairs. Heritability estimates for MEm, FHP, and Km were .52 +/- .22, .75 +/- .13, and .34 +/- .27, respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Effect of protein quality on energy requirements for maintenance in growing rats

Forty 3-week old male Wistar rats (initial weight 45-50 g) were used. After weaning they were fed ad libitum for four weeks (I to IV) on 6 isocaloric and isonitrogenous semisynthetic diets based on soya bean meal (diet SBM) or on ground lupin seed (diet LS) alone or autoclaved (A) or not at 120 degrees C and supplemented with DL-methionine (diets ALSm or LSm, respectively) or with DL-methionine + L-lysine (diets ALSm + l or LSm + l). The diets differ in their protein quality and were formulated in order to provide the adequate experimental conditions to determine the biological value (10% crude protein). Then over the fifth and sixth weeks (V and VI) the rats were fed on the same diets but restricted to 60% of the voluntary feed intake. In a parallel experiment, a group of eight rats previously fed ad libitum on diet SBM for four weeks was fasted for 72 h and then fed on the same diet at a level of intake slightly below maintenance. After a 24 h adaptation period, irrespective of the level of intake and type of diet, a series of 24 h gas-exchanges measurements were carried out in open-circuit respiration chambers. Measurements of energy balance were used to calculate ME for maintenance (MEm) and the efficiency of utilization of ME, using a linear regression of energy retention (RE) on ME. The estimates for MEm derived from energy balances of rats fed above maintenance ranged from 564 to 621 kJ/kgW0.75 per d. No significant differences between diets were observed. From pooled data MEm was found to be 599 kJ/kgW0.75 per d, a value not significantly different from that calculated from measurements at fasting and below maintenance levels (598 kJ/kgW0.75 per d). The efficiency of utilization of ME for maintenance was 81.1% and the efficiencies of utilization of ME for RE ranged from 36.6 to 59.9%. It is concluded that no variations in MEm requirements in growing rats attributable to variations in dietary protein quality have been found. Nevertheless, these results should be taken with caution because of limitations inherent of statistical modelling approaches of partitioning ME.     

Effects of recombinant DNA-derived somatotropin and dietary energy intake on development of beef heifers: II. Concentrations of hormones and metabolites in blood sera

The effects of somatotropin (STH) and energy intake on serum concentrations of glucose (GLU), insulin (INS), nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA), urea nitrogen (UN) and insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) were determined in 40 Angus heifers. At 7 mo (208 +/- 8 d) of age heifers were assigned to four treatment groups: 1) vehicle (V) + high energy (HE; 2.68 Mcal ME/kg DM), 2) recombinant DNA-derived STH (20.6 mg/d; s.c.) + HE, 3) V + low energy (LE; 2.22 Mcal ME/kg DM) or 4) STH + LE. Animals remained on treatments until an average of 15.5 mo of age. Blood samples were taken every 30 min for 4 h at 9, 11, 13 and 15 mo of age to determine circulating concentrations of metabolites and hormones. Serum IGF-I was increased (P less than .01) by STH injections, but this effect appeared to diminish with age (STH x age; P less than .01). Energy intake did not influence IGF-I levels. Somatotropin increased (P less than .01) serum GLU in heifers fed the HE diet but only tended (P = .08) to increase GLU in those fed the LE diet (STH x energy; P = .05). Although STH increased (P less than .01) serum INS in both energy groups, the response in heifers fed the HE diet was greater (P less than .02) than that in heifers fed the LE diet (STH x energy; P less than .05). Heifers fed LE had higher (P less than .01) concentrations of NEFA than heifers fed HE.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Effect of dietary energy, body condition and calf removal on pituitary gonadotropins, gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and hypothalamic opioids in beef cows

Beef cows (n = 64) were slaughtered to evaluate effects of dietary energy and calf removal (CR) on hypothalamic and adenohypophysial endocrine characteristics. From d 190 of gestation until parturition, cows received maintenance (ME; n = 32) or low (LE; n = 32) energy diets (ME = 100%, LE = 70% NRC recommendations). After parturition, half (n = 16) of each prepartum diet group received low (LE; n = 32) or high (HE = 130% NRC; n = 32) energy diets. At 30 d postpartum, cows were slaughtered 0 or 48 hr after CR. Hypothalami [preoptic area (POA), hypothalamus (HYP), stalk-median eminence (SME)] and pituitaries were collected. Basal and K(+)-induced release of GnRH from SME, and pituitary luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) did not differ among groups (P greater than .05). Hypophyseal LH was correlated (P less than .01) with body condition score (BCS) at parturition and slaughter (r = .36 and .47, respectively). Prepartum LE diet increased (P less than .05) met-enkephalin in POA compared to prepartum ME (.59 +/- .05 vs. .44 +/- .04 pmol/mg) regardless of postpartum diet or suckling status. Concentrations of beta-endorphin in combined HYP + POA were decreased (P less than .05) by 48 hr CR (15.1 +/- 1.1 vs. 18.1 +/- 0.7 fmol/mg).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Energy utilization in mature ewes from seven breeds with diverse production potentials

Effects of genetic changes in reproduction, growth, body composition or lactation on the efficiency of market lamb production depend partly on the associated changes in feed intake requirements for maintenance and for protein and fat deposition. To evaluate these relationships, feed intake and body weight changes were monitored for six pairs of open, dry, mature ewes from each of seven diverse breeds fed pelleted alfalfa (53% TDN) ad libitum (AL) or restricted (MN) to 64% of ad libitum levels, for an average of 41 d. After a 56-h fast, heat production (FHP) was measured calorimetrically for 16 h before slaughter and analysis of empty body composition. The estimated daily metabolizable energy intake/kg(.75) of body weight for no change in body energy (MEm) was 167 kcal for the AL vs 147 kcal for MN ewes, and ranged from 139 to 169 among breeds (P less than .05). Estimated above-maintenance ME requirements, kcal/g tissue deposited, were 30 to 50 for protein and 10 to 14 for fat deposition. Mean FHP/d, adjusted by regression to zero activity, was 72 kcal/kg(.75) weight and was nonsignificantly higher (3.3) for the leaner MN than for AL ewes. Thus, the lower total MEm for MN than for AL ewes was necessarily derived from reduced metabolic and physical activity and(or) higher digestibility. Genetic increases in lean vs fat deposition would reduce above-maintenance feed by one-third to one-fourth because of the high water content of lean, but more lean mass may increase maintenance costs.     

Within-herd variation in energy utilization for maintenance and gain in beef cows

Fourteen mature, nonpregnant, nonlactating Angus cows (498 kg) were individually fed through two consecutive phases (maintenance [M], 80 d and ad libitum [A], 70 to 79 d) to estimate within-herd variation in individual cow ME requirements for maintenance (MEm) and to identify factors contributing to this variation. Body composition was determined at initiation of phase M, at termination of phase M (also initiation of phase A) and at the end of phase A by a two-pool D2O dilution technique. Daily MEm averaged 156.7 kcal/kg BW.75 (SD = 18.4 kcal/kg BW.75) and efficiency of ME use for tissue gain or loss averaged 76% (SD = 30%). Estimates of ME intake to maintain 1 kg of protein or 1 kg of fat were 192.9 (SE = 24.8) or 20.7 (SE = 21.5) kcal. These data indicate that among cows of similar fat masses, those with larger protein masses had higher energy requirements for maintenance. Daily MEm was positively correlated (P less than .16) with liver weight (r = .40) and relative proportions of liver (r = .44; P less than .16) and heart (r = .48; P less than .10) in the empty body. Also, daily MEm was correlated negatively (P less than .05) with weight (r = -.71) and relative proportion of omental and mesenteric fat (r = -.78). Estimates of ME required for deposition of 1 kcal of protein or fat were 5.56 (SE = 1.01) or 1.26 (SE = .09) kcal. Weight of liver and the sum of liver, spleen, kidney and heart weights increased 1.58 (R2 = .47) and 1.95 kg (R2 = .52) per kilogram of daily weight gain during phase A. These results indicate that increased performance caused increased organ mass (liver).     

Effects of cimaterol on energetics and carcass characteristics of Suffolk ewe lambs.

The effects of cimaterol, a beta agonist, on basal metabolic rate, heat increment, maintenance requirements and carcass characteristics were determined using six treated and six control Suffolk ewe lambs. The lambs were fed a pelleted diet (18.7% CP, 2.64 Mcal ME/kg) with or without .5 mg cimaterol/kg BW.75 daily for 70 d. Heat production was monitored for 2 d on each animal at three levels of intake by respiration calorimetry. A 7-d total collection digestion trial was conducted on each animal at both high and low levels of intake. Cimaterol-fed lambs gained more (P less than .05) weight (174 vs 107 g/d) and had a higher (P less than .01) gain/feed ratio (151 vs 90 g/kg) than controls. Cimaterol did not affect diet digestibility or methane production. It reduced (P less than .01) urinary N excretion by 12% and improved (P less than .001) N retention by 18%. Cimaterol also increased carcass weight (26.9 vs 22.1 kg), dressing percentage (57.2 vs 53.9), longissimus muscle area (22.5 vs 15.0 cm2) and leg score (14.3 vs 12.2). Heat production was, on the average, elevated 7 to 10% on d 1 to 4 of cimaterol feeding but reverted to control levels by d 10. Cimaterol did not have any long-term thermogenic effects, either expressed as partial efficiency of ME use for growth (.48 vs .49), as maintenance ME requirements (76 vs 75 kcal/kg BW.75) or as fasting heat production (84 vs 80 kcal/kg BW.75) for treated vs control lambs, respectively. Results indicate little long-term thermogenic effect of cimaterol, even though growth rate and protein deposition were increased.     

Effects of recombinant DNA-derived somatotropin and dietary energy intake on development of beef heifers: I. Growth and puberty

The effects of dietary energy intake and somatotropin (STH) on growth and puberty were studied in 40 Angus heifers. At an average age of 7 mo (208 +/- 8 d), heifers were assigned to four treatment groups: 1) vehicle (V) + high energy (HE; 2.68 Mcal ME/kg DM), 2) recombinant DNA-derived STH (20.6 mg/d; s.c.) + HE, 3) V + low energy (LE; 2.22 Mcal ME/kg DM) or 4) STH + LE. Animals remained on treatments until 15.5 mo of age. Body weights (BW), hip heights (HH) and areas of pelvic openings (PA) were measured every 28 d and backfat thicknesses (BF) were measured every 56 d. Plasma progesterone was measured in blood samples taken three times per week beginning at 9 mo of age to determine age at first ovulation. Heifers fed HE were heavier (P less than .01), gained faster (P less than .01) and had greater BF (P less than .01) than those fed LE. Animals treated with STH gained faster (P less than .01) and were heavier (P less than .05) between 12 and 15 mo of age than V-treated heifers. Heifers treated with STH also had less BF (P less than .05) and a tendency for a greater (P = .08) increase in HH than in V-treated heifers. Somatotropin interacted with energy (P less than .05) and age (P less than .01) to influence PA. Somatotropin increased (P less than .01) PA in heifers fed the HE diet but not in those fed the LE diet.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Heat energy for growing goats and sheep grazing different pastures in the summer.

Angora goat, Spanish goat, and Suffolk x Rambouillet sheep wethers (20 of each type; 30.4+/-.57, 31.3+/-.93, and 32.4+/-1.08 kg BW for Angora goats, Spanish goats, and sheep, respectively) were used to investigate influences of animal type and two grass-based pasture treatments on heat energy during summer grazing (mid-August through September in Oklahoma). The improved pasture treatment consisted of .7-ha paddocks primarily of Old World bluestem and johnsongrass, whereas the native pasture treatment entailed 10.8-ha paddocks dominated by big and little bluestems and indiangrass. Grasses were 95 to 100% of diets for the improved pasture treatment and 71 to 95% for the native pasture treatment; forbs were 2 to 25%, and shrubs were less than 4% of diets for the native pasture treatment. Metabolizable energy intake was similar (P > . 10) between pasture treatments but differed (P <.01) among animal types: 79, 99, and 113 kcal/(kg(.75) BW.d) for Angora goats, Spanish goats, and sheep, respectively; SE 7.1. Heat energy estimated via CO2 entry rate was affected by pasture treatment ( P = .08) and animal type (P < .001): improved pasture treatment 109, 132, and 151 kcal/(kg(.75) BW.d); native pasture treatment 126, 138, and 163 kcal/(kg(.75) BW.d) for Angora goats, Spanish goats, and sheep, respectively. Likewise, daylight grazing time was greater (P = .04) for the native than for the improved pasture treatment and differed (P < .01) among animal types: improved pasture treatment 5.3, 4.7, and 6.7 h; native pasture treatment 6.0, 5.7, and 8.1 h for Angora goats, Spanish goats, and sheep, respectively. In conclusion, heat energy during summer grazing of grass-based paddocks was less for goats than for sheep, and animal type can affect the increase in heat energy as energy intake and grazing time increase.     

Effect of dietary energy levels on the urinary excretion of purine derivatives in sheep

The effect of dietary energy levels on the urinary excretion of purine derivatives (PD) was investigated in sheep fed hay and concentrate diets. In addition, the possibility of using PD concentrations in spot samples of urine as a useful tool for determining daily PD excretion was also examined. Three female lambs (mean bodyweight (BW) ± standard error, 31.4 ± 1.0 kg) were fed three diets consisting of timothy hay (20 g dry matter/kg BW per day) and rolled barley at three different energy levels (low‐energy (LE), medium‐energy (ME) and high‐energy (HE) at 1.0‐, 1.2‐ and 1.5‐fold greater than the maintenance level of energy (450 KJ/BW^0.75/day), respectively) in a 3 × 3 Latin square design. The dietary protein level was almost constant (380 mg nitrogen/BW^0.75/day as digestible crude protein base) and was adjusted using soybean protein. Digestible organic matter intake (DOMI) increased (P < 0.05) with an increase in the dietary energy level and there was a difference (P < 0.05) in the organic matter digestibility between the LE and HE diets. For urinary PD excretion, the differences between the LE and ME diets and the HE diet were significant (P < 0.05), although there was no clear difference between the LE and ME diets. There was a positive correlation (r = 0.47, P < 0.05) between urinary PD excretion and DOMI. There was also a correlation (r = 0.59, P < 0.05) between the urinary PD level at 7–8 h after the morning feed and the daily total PD excretion, suggesting that the PD level in spot urine samples could be useful for estimating microbial protein synthesized in the rumen and/or digested in the lower gut.     

Effect of protein and lysine levels in the diet on body gain composition and energy utilization in growing pigs

Eight replicates of four Large White littermate female pigs were used to evaluate the effect of protein and lysine levels in the diet on the efficiency of protein and energy utilization. In each replicate, one pig was slaughtered at about 20 kg live weight and the others received three diets that contained (per Mcal digestible energy) 37.5 and 2.00 g (diet pl), 37.5 and 2.35 g (diet pL) or 45.0 and 2.35 g (diet PL) of digestible protein and lysine, respectively. Pigs were slaughtered after a 7-wk period. Tissue and chemical composition of the gain and energy and nitrogen gain were determined by using the comparative slaughter technique. Metabolizable energy (ME) intakes were similar in the treatments. Pigs fed the pl diet had a smaller body weight and muscle gain and retained less nitrogen and more lipids than pigs fed pL and PL diets. The decrease in the level of nonessential nitrogen in the diet (pL vs PL) did not affect body weight and muscle gain and the amount of nitrogen retained in muscle tissues. However, pigs given the PL diet had a higher total nitrogen retention and a lower fat deposition and exhibited a higher heat production. For each gram of additional protein catabolized for energy purposes (PL vs pL), heat production was increased by 1.8 kcal. The amount of lysine per unit of muscle gain (38 g/kg) or protein deposited (120 g/kg) was independent of protein and lysine levels in the diet. Estimates of energy (indirect calorimetry) and nitrogen (balance technique) retention were also obtained on the same animals; results were comparable with data obtained by direct measurements.     

Metabolizable energy for maintenance of beef-type Bos taurus and Bos indicus x Bos taurus cows in a dry, temperate climate

Metabolizable energy for maintenance (MEm) was estimated using 123 mature cows of eight diverse breed groups. Cows in each breed group were allotted at random 1) to limit-feeding to approximate maintenance or 2) to ad libitum access to feed. The MEm values were calculated by regression of change in body energy on ME intake. The MEm values for mature Hereford, Red Poll, Hereford x Red Poll, Red Poll x Hereford, Angus x Hereford, Angus x Charolais, Brahman x Hereford, and Brahman x Angus breed types were as follows: 145, 169, 148, 149, 144, 152, 139, and 143 kcal.kg-.75.d-1, respectively. Bos indicus-cross cows ranked lowest for MEm/kg.75. Angus x Hereford cows averaged highest in terms of grams of calf weaned per mature female exposed divided by yearly MEm requirement. Hereford x Red Poll reciprocal crosses on average required 640 kcal less total daily MEm per animal than Hereford and Red Poll straightbreds.     

Metabolic utilization of energy and maintenance requirements in growing pigs: effects of sex and genotype.

An experiment was conducted in which the metabolic utilization of energy was measured in individually penned pigs from seven groups that differed in genotype and(or) sex and ranged in body weight between 20 and 107 kg. The animals were fed a diet containing, on a DM basis, 14.7 MJ ME and at least 21% CP. Heat production was measured in an open-circuit calorimeter, and energy, nitrogen, and fat balances were determined at regular intervals over the growing period; a total of 177 measurements were performed. Body composition of the animals was measured by serial slaughter, and these data were used for estimating the body composition of an animal at a given weight through allometric regression. A factorial analysis procedure was used to estimate the utilization of ME by regressing the ME intake on the observed protein and lipid deposition rates. The intercept of this equation is the maintenance energy requirement (MEm) and was represented either as a function of body weight with group-specific parameters (MEm = a(i) BWb) or as a function of the muscle and visceral mass with an additional additive group effect (MEm = aM muscle(b) + a(v) viscera(b) + G(i)). With BW as dependent variable, the exponent b was close to .60 and differed significantly from .75. The regression coefficient (a(i)) averaged 1.02 MJ ME/kg.60 but it was different for most groups, indicating that different groups of animals have different maintenance requirements. Fixing the exponent to .75 consistently underestimated the maintenance requirement. When the exponent b was not fixed to .75 but estimated, the partial efficiencies for protein and lipid deposition were .62 and .84, respectively. Body muscle and visceral mass could explain a large part of the variation in MEm. Viscera contributed three times more to MEm (per kilogram of mass raised to the .70 power) than did muscle. Even though the muscle mass exceeds to a large extent the visceral mass in animals, the contribution of muscle to MEm was lower than that of viscera for most groups.     

Effects of growth hormone-releasing factor and feed intake on energy metabolism in growing beef steers: whole-body energy and nitrogen metabolism.

Effects of growth hormone-releasing factor (GRF) on energy and N metabolism in six growing Hereford x Angus steers were measured using a split-plot design with 4-wk injection periods within 8-wk intake periods. Steers were fed a 75% concentrate pelleted diet at two intakes (low: 50 g/BW.75 and high: 90 g/BW.75 as fed) and injected s.c. with saline or 10 micrograms/kg of BW of human GRF(1-29)NH2 twice daily for 3 wk. Measurements of energy and N balance were obtained during wk 3 of treatments. Diet DM digestibility (%) was decreased by greater intake (P less than .05) and increased by GRF (P less than .06). Treatment with GRF increased (P less than .01) N retention by decreasing (P less than .05) fecal and urinary excretion: N retention averaged 10.0 and 20.8 g/d at low intake and 25.9 and 46.7 g/d at high intake for control- and GRF-treated steers, respectively. Increased ME (P less than .05) in GRF-treated steers also resulted from decreased fecal (P less than .05) and urinary (P less than .07) energy excretion but was countered by increased (P less than .06) heat energy (HE). Tissue energy (TE), partial efficiency of ME use for TE retention, and estimated maintenance energy were not affected (P greater than .10) by GRF treatment. In summary, GRF treatment altered the partition of TE by increasing protein retention (108 and 80% for low and high intake, respectively) at the expense of fat retention.     

Utilization of nitrogen and energy by Holstein steers fed formaldehyde- and formic acid-treated alfalfa or orchardgrass silage at two intakes

Our objective was to measure the utilization of energy (E) and N by Holstein steers when fed alfalfa and orchardgrass silages offered at 65 and 90 g DM/kg live weight (LW).75 daily. Twelve steers adapted to the Beltsville respiration chambers were assigned to three Latin squares with 42-d periods. Steers in one square had permanent catheters in the portal and two mesenteric veins. Energy and N balance were measured during a 7-d collection of feces and urine that included a 3-d measurement of respiratory exchange. Energy and N variables were not different between catheterized and uncatheterized steers. Apparent digestibilities of DM, OM, CP, neutral detergent solubles and permanganate lignin were higher (P less than .01) and digestibilities of NDF and ADF, hemicellulose and cellulose were lower (P less than .01) for steers consuming alfalfa compared to orchardgrass silage. When fed alfalfa, steers' daily gross energy intake, DE, urine energy, ME, heat production and tissue energy retention were greater (P less than .01) and fecal energy losses were less (P less than .01) than when they were fed orchardgrass. Partial efficiency of ME use for tissue energy (TE) was greater (P less than .01) for steers when fed alfalfa (46.1%) than when fed orchardgrass (35.6%). Apparent ME (kcal/LW.75) required for maintenance of TE was similar for steers when fed alfalfa (133.9) and orchardgrass (131.2) silages. Nitrogen retention (g/d) was 48% greater (P less than .01) for steers when fed alfalfa (30.6) than when fed orchardgrass (20.7). This study demonstrates that steers used ME from alfalfa more efficiently for TE deposition than ME from orchardgrass.     

Effects of environmental temperature,dietary energy,sex and age on nitrogen and energy retention in the edible carcase of broilers

1. Two environmentally‐controlled houses, one set at constant 21°C (low temperature, LT) and the other set at diurnally cycling 21°C to 30°C (high temperature, HT), and two dietary energy concentrations of 13 MJ ME/kg (low energy, LE) and 13.8 MJ ME/kg (high energy, HE) were used to study nitrogen and energy retention in the edible carcase of male and female broilers slaughtered at 34 and 54 days.

2. Carcase nitrogen was higher in males than in females, and in birds reared at LT than in those reared at HT.

3. Birds at LT and on HE diet, regardless of sex, retained more energy as fat in their carcases than those at HT and on LE diet respectively.

4. Maintenance energy requirement averaged 6.70, 7.67, 7.43 and 9.01 kJ per g metabolic body size (kJ/gW 0.66) for broilers at HT and LT up to 34 d and at HT and LT up to 54 d, respectively.

5. There was a similar increase with age in the energy requirement for growth but with requirements of broilers at LT consistently lower than for those at HT.     

Digestible and metabolizable energy of crude glycerol for growing pigs

The apparent DE and ME values of crude glycerol for growing pigs were determined in 5 experiments using crude glycerol (86.95% glycerol) from a biodiesel production facility, which used soybean oil as the initial feedstock. Dietary treatments were 0, 5, or 10% glycerol addition to basal diets in Exp. 1; 0, 5, 10, or 20% glycerol addition to basal diets in Exp. 2; and 0 and 10% crude glycerol addition to the basal diets in Exp. 3, 4, and 5. Each diet was fed twice daily to pigs in individual metabolism crates. After a 10-d adjustment period, a 5-d balance trial was conducted. During the collection period, feces and urine were collected separately after each meal and stored at 0 degrees C until analyses. The GE of each dietary treatment and samples of urine and feces from each pig were determined by isoperibol bomb calorimetry. Digestible energy of the diet was calculated by subtracting fecal energy from the GE in the feed, whereas ME was calculated by subtracting the urinary energy from DE. The DE and ME values of crude glycerol were estimated as the slope of the linear relationship between either DE or ME intake from the experimental diet and feed intake. Among all experiments, the crude glycerol (86.95% glycerol) examined in this study was shown to have a DE of 3,344 +/- 8 kcal/kg and an ME of 3,207 +/- 10 kcal/kg, thereby providing a highly available energy source for growing pigs.     

Digestibility of energy and phosphorus in ten samples of distillers dried grains with solubles fed to growing pigs

An experiment was conducted to measure DE and ME and the apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of energy, N, and P in distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) fed to growing pigs. Ten sources of DDGS were obtained from ethanol plants in South Dakota and Minnesota, and 11 diets were formulated. One diet was based on corn (96.8%), limestone, salt, vitamins, and microminerals. Ten additional diets were formulated by mixing the corn diet and each of the 10 sources of DDGS in a 1:1 ratio. Eleven growing pigs (initial BW of 29.3 +/- 0.42 kg) were allotted to an 11 x 11 Latin square design, with 11 periods and 11 pigs. Each of the 11 diets was fed to each pig during 1 period. Pigs were placed in metabolism cages that allowed for the total, but separate, collection of feces and urine. Samples were analyzed for GE, N, and P and energy and N balances, and the ATTD of GE, N, and P were calculated for each diet. By subtracting the contribution from the corn diet to the DDGS-containing diets, the energy and N balances and the ATTD for GE, N, and P for each source of DDGS were calculated. Results of the experiment showed that the DE and ME differed (P < 0.001) among the 10 sources of DDGS (3,947 to 4,593 kcal of DE/kg of DM and 3,674 to 4,336 kcal of ME/kg of DM). The average DE and ME in DDGS were 4,140 and 3,897 kcal/kg of DM, respectively. These values were not different from the DE and ME in corn (4,088 and 3,989 kcal/kg of DM, respectively). Based on the analyzed GE and nutrient composition of DDGS and the calculated values for DE and ME, prediction equations for DE and ME were developed. These equations showed that DE and ME in DDGS may be predicted from the concentration of ash, ether extract, ADF, and GE. The retention of N from DDGS was greater (P < 0.001) than from corn, but when calculated on a percentage basis, the N retention did not differ between DDGS and corn. The ATTD of P in DDGS was 59.1% on average for the 10 samples. This value was greater (P < 0.001) than the ATTD of P in corn (19.3%). It is concluded that the DE and ME in DDGS is not different from the DE and ME in corn. However, if DDGS is included in diets fed to growing swine, a greater portion of the organic P will be digested and absorbed, thus reducing the need for adding inorganic P to the diets.     

Effects of diet forage:concentrate ratio and metabolizable energy intake on visceral organ growth and in vitro oxidative capacity of gut tissues in sheep

We used 28 crossbred wether lambs to determine the effects of dietary forage:concentrate ratio and metabolizable energy intake on visceral organ growth and oxidative capacity of gut tissues in lambs. Lambs were assigned randomly to a factorial arrangement of dietary treatments consisting of pelleted diets containing either 75% orchardgrass or 75% concentrate fed once daily at either .099 or .181 Mcal ME x (kg BW(.75))(-1) x d(-1). After a 52-d feeding period, lambs were slaughtered to obtain measurements of visceral organ mass and composition and oxidative capacity of isolated epithelial cells. Lamb performance, as measured by DMI, ADG, and efficiency of gain, was greater (P = .0001) for both diets at high ME intake. Likewise, lambs fed 75% concentrate gained faster and more (P < or = .01) efficiently than lambs fed 75% forage. Total digestive tract (TDT; includes rumen, reticulum, omasum, abomasum, and intestines) weight increased (P = .0001) with ME intake and was greater (P = .03) in lambs fed 75% forage than in those fed 75% concentrate. As a percentage of empty body weight (EBW), TDT weight increased with ME intake in lambs fed 75% forage, but it was unaffected by ME intake in lambs fed 75% concentrate (diet x intake, P = .03). Liver weight increased (P = .0001) with ME intake and was greater (P = .005) in lambs fed 75% concentrate vs 75% forage; however, liver weight as a percentage of EBW was increased (P = .0002) with ME intake but was unaffected by diet. Greater ME intake increased (P < or = .02) small intestinal (SI) epithelial and muscle mass of 15-cm sections, whereas jejunal epithelial mass was greater (P = .01) for lambs fed 75% forage vs 75% concentrate. Rumen epithelial concentrations of DNA and RNA increased (P < or = .02) with greater ME intake, whereas SI concentrations of DNA and RNA were largely unaffected by diet or ME intake. The activity of Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase increased in ileal epithelium (P < or = .02) with ME intake and concentrate in the diet, but activity in ruminal epithelium increased (P = .05) with concentrate. Total oxygen consumption by isolated ruminal and intestinal epithelial cells was unaffected by treatment. These data suggest that ME intake and level of dietary forage affect ruminal and intestinal growth via changes in cellular hyperplasia. Additionally, this study supports the concept that ME intake and diet composition alter gut energy expenditure, at least in part, through changes in mass rather than mass specific metabolism.