Effects of energy intake on energetic efficiency and body composition of beef steers differing in size at maturity

Hereford and Charolais steers were fed at three levels of feed intake (low, medium or ad libitum) to similar weights within breed groups to evaluate effects of energy intake on energetic efficiency and body composition. Two methods were employed to partition metabolizable energy intake into use for maintenance and gain. Method one used an assumed daily fasting heat production of 77 kcal/weight (W).75; method two estimated fasting heat production from the regression of log daily heat production against metabolizable energy intake (kcal/W.75). Net energy for gain (NEg) was determined in method one by regressing retained energy (kcal/W.75) against feed intake (g/W.75). For method two, the estimated maintenance requirement of feed was subtracted from total feed intake and retained energy was regressed against feed intake above maintenance to estimate NEg. Conclusions regarding feed energy utilization for maintenance and gain were the same by either method of energy partitioning. Charolais steers used feed energy less efficiently for gain than Hereford steers, and ad libitum steers used feed energy less efficiently for gain than steers at lower intakes (P less than .05). Charolais steers made leaner (P less than .05) gains than Hereford steers. Although steers consuming the lowest level of feed made gains containing a lower percentage of fat and a higher percentage of protein (P less than .05) than steers at higher intakes, body composition within a breed was not altered by level of energy intake when animals, within breeds, were slaughtered at similar end weights.