[Energy metabolism and energy requirements of growing boars]

The nitrogen and energy metabolism and the energy consumption of growing boars were measured in 2 metabolic and feeding trials using 8 parallel animals each. The studies covered the 30 to 150 kg live weight range. The growth intensity of the boars was found strongly influenced by the protein level of the ration. At a crude protein level of 18% in the ration, the boars gained, on the average, 780 g per day during the fattening period under study. Energy conversion was found to decline as the protein amount went up. The energy expediture for protein deposition was estimated at 1.8 to 2.0 kcal metabolizable energy per kg deposited. The energy and feed expenditures were calculated to be 7.1 Mcal net energy--fat retention for the whole development period or 3.0 kg dry matter per kg live weight. Boars proved to have an energy requirement differing from that of barrows and gilts; equations are presented for derivation.