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The energy value of body-weight change in adult cattle

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 November 2017

J M Bruce
J M Bruce*
Affiliation:
Scottish Farm Buildings Investigation Unit Craibstone, Bucksbum, Aberdeen AB2 9TR
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Extract

It is important to have a quantitative knowledge of the energy value of body-weight change (EV MJ/kg) when designing nutritional strategies for dairy and beef cows. Published values for EV vary widely. For example Chigaru and Topps (1981) give values for cows from 3.7 MJ/kg to 26.9 MJ/kg and Alderman, Broster, Strickland and Johnson (1982) give a mean value as high as 89.1 MJ/kg in mid-lactation. A wide range of values are also calculated for lactating ewes by Cowan, Robinson, Greenhaigh and McHattie (1979). The current ARC (1980) recommendation for cows is to use a constant value of 26.0 MJ/kg. Using mean values can be useful to make practical progress but we cannot avoid facing the fact that averaging, even on a selective basis, tends to obscure real and high variation in reported values. This paper will present a mathematical development which will define what is meant by the energy value of body-weight change and discuss some implications which follow. A final solution to the basic problem is not proposed.

Type
Ruminant Nutrition
Information
Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Production (1972) , Volume 1984 , March 1984 , pp. 69
Copyright
Copyright © The British Society of Animal Production 1984

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References

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