The energetic feed evaluation in Germany

Area of Science:

• Animal Nutrition
• Feed Evaluation Systems

Background:

• German feed evaluation systems for domestic animals have been updated.
• New energy requirement recommendations were introduced by the Committee of Nutrient Requirements (AfB) of the Society of Nutritional Physiology (GfE).

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe current energetic feed evaluation systems in Germany for ruminants, pigs, poultry, and horses.
• To present updated energy requirement recommendations and feed evaluation methods.

Main Methods:

• Factorial deduction of energy requirements (maintenance and performance) using partial efficiencies of metabolizable energy (ME) utilization (k-values).
• Utilizing Net Energy Lactation (NEL) for cows, ME for other ruminants, pigs, and poultry, and digestible energy (DE) for horses.
• Employing GfE (1986-1998) equations and tables for feed energy content and nutritive values.

Main Results:

• Updated energy requirement recommendations for various domestic animals.
• Established methods for calculating feed energy content and nutritive values for different species.
• Equations for estimating the energy content of mixed feeds are available.

Conclusions:

• Germany employs comprehensive energetic feed evaluation systems based on updated scientific recommendations.
• These systems provide standardized methods for assessing feed energy for diverse livestock species.
• The updated guidelines support precise animal nutrition management.