Energy requirements of Holstein, Gyr, and Holstein x Gyr crossbred heifers using the respirometry technique.

We aimed to determine the energy requirements for maintenance and gain of 18 prepubertal dairy heifers of three breed compositions (BC; Holstein, Gyr, and Holstein × Gyr). Diets were formulated for gains of 0, 400, and 800 g/day, corresponding to 1.0×, 1.5×, and 2.0× maintenance, respectively. Each dairy BC had six animals with an initial body weight (iBW) of 219.8 ± 32 kg, 215.8 ± 33 kg, and 228.3 ± 33 kg for Holstein, Gyr, and Holstein × Gyr, respectively. The experiment was designed as a completely randomized design in a factorial scheme 3 × 3 [three BC and three feeding levels (FL)]. Digestibility and metabolism assays were performed to determine energy losses through feces and urine. Heat production was determined using the continuous measurement of oxygen consumption, carbon dioxide production, and methane emissions in respiration chambers. Energy requirements for maintenance (NEm) were calculated based on the relationship between heat production (HP) and metabolizable energy intake (MEI). The efficiency of use of metabolizable energy for maintenance (km) was obtained from the ratio between NEm and metabolizable energy requirements for maintenance. The net energy requirements for growth (NEg) were estimated from the model RE = β0 × EBW0.75 × EBGβ1, where RE is the retained energy (Mcal/day), EBW is empty body weight (kg0.75), and EBG is the empty body gain (kg/day). The efficiency of use of metabolizable energy for gain (kg) was estimated as the slope of the regression between RE and MEI for gain. Gyr heifers presented NEm 15% lower (98 kcal/kg of BW0.75) than HG crossbred animals. Holstein and crossbred heifers had similar NEm, 102 and 112 kcal/kg of BW0.75, respectively. The km was 0.71, 0.74, and 0.75 for HG, Holstein, and Gyr, respectively. Net energy requirement for gain (NEg) did not differ across BC, and a single equation was fit for all BC: RE = 0.069 × BW0.75 × BGW0.852. A single kg of 0.65 was observed for all three BC. Breed composition affected the energy requirements for maintenance and the energy partition, and those differences should be considered when estimating requirements for Gyr, Holstein × Gyr crossbred, and Holstein heifers.

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: SILVESTRE, T., FERREIRA, A. L., MACHADO, F. S., CAMPOS, M. M., TOMICH, T. R., PEREIRA, L. G. R., RODRIGUES, P. H. M., MARCONDES, M. I.
Other Authors: TAINA SILVESTRE, Universidade de São Paulo; ALEXANDRE LIMA FERREIRA, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais; FERNANDA SAMARINI MACHADO, CNPGL; MARIANA MAGALHAES CAMPOS, CNPGL; THIERRY RIBEIRO TOMICH, CNPGL; LUIZ GUSTAVO RIBEIRO PEREIRA, CNPGL; PAULO HENRIQUE MAZZA RODRIGUES, Universidade de São Paulo; MARCOS INACIO MARCONDES, Washington State University.
Format: Artigo de periódico biblioteca
Language:Ingles
English
Published: 2022-09-13
Subjects:Bioenergetics, Breed composition, Indirect calorimetry, Maintenance, Bovino, Gado Gir, Gado Holandês, Calorimetria, Raça, Manutenção,
Online Access:http://www.alice.cnptia.embrapa.br/alice/handle/doc/1146382
https://doi.org/10.3389/fanim.2022.919515
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