A System for Expressing the Net Energy Requirements and Net Energy Content of Feeds for Young Sheep

Abstract

DATA from four Comparative slaughter experiments, involving 203 whiteface lambs and 40 yearling wethers were used to develop a NE system for expressing energy requirements and feed values for young sheep. NEm requirements were derived from fasting heat production which was estimated as 63.0 kcal/ Wkg3/4. NEg requirements for lambs were derived from the following regression of energy gain on body weight gain. Y=384.96X where Y is daily energy gain (kcal/Wkg3/4) and X is daily weight gain (kg). Net energy values were estimated for the rations fed and were related to the ME content of the diet by the following regressions.