Development of metabolic partitioning of energy in young calves

Modifications in thermal demand and energy partitioning in newborn calves were determined over time via indirect calorimetry. One-week-old calves were fed milk replacer at 70 and 110% of the metabolizable energy requirements for maintenance, at ambient temperatures of 7.5 or 19 degrees C, over two consecutive but separately monitored 7-d balance periods. During wk 1, N digestibility, energy digestibility, and energy metabolizability were lower than during wk 2. Heat production decreased, but retention of energy and fat increased, between balance periods. During wk 1, initial IgG concentration in serum was positively correlated with digestibilities of N and energy, and hemoglobin concentration was negatively correlated with heat production. Regression analysis revealed that predicted basal metabolic rate, efficiency of metabolizable energy use, and metabolizable energy requirements for maintenance were lower for wk 2 than for wk 1. Decreased energy utilization in calves on restricted feedings is related to an increase in the utilization of protein as an energy source. Young calves need at least 2 wk to adapt to the combination of new environmental temperature and low feeding amount. Metabolic partitioning of energy may indicate completion of the adaptation stage.