THE EFFICIENCY OF UTILIZATION OF METABOLIZABLE ENERGY OF MILK-REPLACER-FED CALVES AT WEANING PERIOD

A total of 22 energy balance trials were done for calves fed a liquid milk replacer, calf starter and second cut mixed hay during weaning period. Milk replacer supplied 50% of the total dietary energy, calf starter 42% and hay 8% Live weight of calves averaged 64.6 ($S.D.{\pm}7.8$) kg and daily gain 0.54 (${\pm}0.22$) kg. The metabolizability of gross energy averaged 0.751. A regression was calculated relating energy retention (ER, $kJ/kg^{0.75}$) to the intake of metabolizable energy (IME, $kJ/kg^{0.75}$): $$ER=0.69({\pm}0.09)IME-395,\;r=0.888,\;P<0.01,\;S.E.{\pm}7.1$$. Metabolizable energy for maintenance (MEm) was calculated to be $572kJ/kg^{0.75}$ when ER = 0. The amount of IME over MEm for an individual animal (MEg, $kJ/kg^{0.75}$) was regressed on average daily gain (ADG, kg) by the method of regression through the origin: $$MEg=364({\pm}55)ADG,\;r=0.634,\;P<0.01,\;S.E.{\pm}12$$. The amount of ME required for maintenance and growth was estimated to be $936kJ/kg^{0.75}$.