Between-animal variation in the amount of energy required for the maintenance of cows

A.J.H. van Es

    Research output: Thesisinternal PhD, WU

    Abstract

    To measure any between-animal differences in requirement of energy for maintenance of cows 38 metabolic balance trials were performed with 13 dry Friesian cows in their 7th month of pregnancy, on the same rations. For 6 of the cows measurements were also taken in the 9th month of pregnancy. A detailed description was given of new respiration chambers used and of techniques. The results of 237 balance trials with cattle with an energy balance between + 4000 and - 4000 kcal. described in the literature, were analysed statistically. In this material between-animal variation in metabolizable energy for maintenance, corrected to the same bodyweight, reached about 11 % and within some breeds 8- 10 %. In the author's trials, variation in Friesians was 4-8 % similar to results of published trials. For both sets of data a reliable figure for between-animal variation needed exclusion of such factors as differences in ration, date of measurement and pregnancy. From the author's trials utilisation of metabolizable energy for growth of foetus, foetal membranes and udder was about half of that for fattening if it was assumed that pregnancy had no influence on maintenance requirement.
    Original languageEnglish
    QualificationDoctor of Philosophy
    Awarding Institution
    Supervisors/Advisors
    • Brouwer, E., Promotor, External person
    Award date23 Jun 1961
    Place of PublicationWageningen
    Publisher
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 23 Jun 1961

    Keywords

    • restricted feeding
    • cattle
    • veterinary science
    • nutrition physiology

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