Utilisation of feed energy by growing ruminants

Abstract

As the energy value of feeds for growing ruminants is generally calculated from the data obtained from adult sheep, the various factors which can alter the utilisation of feed energy are considered :-effects of species, age, diet composition and feeding level on energy digestibility and metabolisability, methane and urinary energy losses ;-effects of age, breed, diet composition and feeding level on partial efficiency of meta-bolisable energy (ME) for maintenance or tissue gain and on overall efficiency of ME for growth. Résumé Utilisation de l'énergie par les ruminants en croissance