August 07, 2021

Interpretive Summary: Development of a model to predict dietary metabolizable energy from digestible energy in beef cattle

Interpretive Summary: Development of a model to predict dietary metabolizable energy from digestible energy in beef cattle

By: Anne Kamiya, MS

Understanding the utilization of feed energy is essential for precision feeding in the production of beef cattle. A study recently published in the Journal of Animal Science aimed to assess whether predicting the metabolizable energy to digestible energy ratio, rather than a prediction of metabolizable energy with digestible energy, is feasible; in addition, the research team aimed to develop a model equation to predict metabolizable energy based on digestible energy measurement and dietary components in beef cattle. For this purpose, the research team gathered the literature data to build a database and perform a meta-analysis on possible relationships of factors, influencing the metabolizable energy to digestible energy ratio. The final model was developed using a random coefficient model, and the model prediction equations were compared to other model equations.

In the present study, it was determined that dietary metabolizable energy in beef cattle could be accurately estimated from dietary digestible energy and its conversion factor, the metabolizable energy to digestible energy ratio, predicted by the dry matter intake and concentration of several dietary nutrients, using the 2 equations developed in this study. The two equations developed had greater predictability than published equations in terms of both model precision and accuracy.

The full paper can be found on the Journal of Animal Science webpage.