Metabolizable energy utilisation in growing beef cattle: efficiencies of protein and fat synthesis

Authors: Hales Paxton, Kristin; OLD, C - A3 Cattle Co

Submitted to: Symposium Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/8/2019
Publication Date: 9/3/2019
Citation: Hales, K.E., Old, C.A. 2019. Metabolizable energy utilisation in growing beef cattle: efficiencies of protein and fat synthesis. In: Proceedings of 6th EAAP International Symposium on Energy and Protein Metabolism and Nutrition, September 9-12, 2019, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil. EAAP Publication No. 138. p. 481-482. https://doi.org/10.3920/978-90-8686-891-9.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3920/978-90-8686-891-9

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Ordinary least squares (OLS) estimates of efficiencies of metabolizable energy (ME) utilization are often inconsistent with thermodynamic favorabilities of underlying mechanisms. Efficiencies of ME utilization for maintenance (km), gain, protein and fat synthesis (kg, kp and kf, respectively) were evaluated for 152 growing beef steers in OLS (frequentist) and non-linear Bayesian frameworks. Estimators determined in OLS frameworks were not always consistent with thermodynamic favorabilities of underlying mechanisms and were characterized by inflated variances, the latter indicating poor model specification. When evaluated in Bayesian frameworks, maintenance was a variable function of ME intake and all estimators characterizing efficiencies of ME utilization were consistent with theoretical properties regarding maintenance and gain in growing and finishing beef cattle.