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Energy requirement for eating in cattle
A Susenbeth1, R Mayer, B Koehler
1Institute of Animal Nutrition, Physiology and Metabolism, University of Kiel, Germany. susenbeth@aninut.uni-kiel.de
Journal of Animal Science
|November 14, 1998
Summary
The energy cost of eating in cattle, sheep, and horses is similar, with ruminating accounting for about 27% of eating energy expenditure. This energy use is crucial for understanding feed energy utilization efficiency.
Area of Science:
- Animal Nutrition
- Metabolic Physiology
- Ruminant Physiology
Background:
- The energy expended during feeding and rumination significantly impacts overall energy metabolism in livestock.
- Understanding these energy costs is vital for optimizing feed efficiency and formulating diets.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify the energy requirement for the act of eating in adult steers.
- To compare the energy cost of eating with literature values and assess the energy cost of rumination.
- To evaluate the impact of eating and rumination on the metabolizable energy (ME) utilization from different feed types.
Main Methods:
- Indirect calorimetry was used to measure heat production in four adult Hinterwälder steers.
- Heat production was recorded during periods with and without ad libitum access to wheat straw.
- Straw intake, eating time, and jaw movements were monitored to calculate the energy cost of eating.
Main Results:
- The average energy cost of eating was determined to be 27+/-13 J/(min x kg BW).
- Rumination accounted for approximately 27% of the energy cost of eating.
- The energy cost of eating was relatively constant when related to time spent eating across different species (cattle, sheep, horses).
Conclusions:
- Eating and rumination represent a significant energy requirement that must be considered in the total ME requirement of ruminants.
- Approximately 10% of ME from high-quality roughage and up to 30% of ME from untreated straw are utilized for eating and rumination.
- The substantial energy cost of processing fibrous feeds like roughages may explain their lower ME utilization efficiency compared to other feed types.