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Feed Energy Requirements for Different Rates of Growth of Dairy Heifers

Department of Dairying, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville 37916

ABSTRACT

Comparisons of feed and growth data were calculated from 16 experiments from which published data were available involving more than 900 heifers in 267 experimental groups within which heifers had been fed to produce different growth rates. Feeds were measured by total digestible nutrients (TDN). Metabolic weight was calculated as W^0.6. The regression equation TDN/W^0.6 = a + b G (daily gain) showed that feed per unit metabolic weight was linearly related to daily gain. Terms of equations from most experiments were similar; therefore, all were combined to give (for kg) TDN/W^0.6 = .0750 + 0.0917G, equivalent to TDN = .075 W^0.6(l + 1.222G). The correlation coefficient was 0.77. The standard error of estimate of the regression was 0.015. For a given TDN/W^0.66 ratio, young heifers gained slightly more than older heifers. For practical prediction of feed allowances for heifers of a given size to gain any weight within normal ranges, the equation is applicable for all dairy breeds from 4 to 22 months of age.