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Comparison of Methods for Estimating the Feed Used for Growth and Maintenance of Beef Calves¹

University of Maryland, College Park

Abstract

Relationships among (a) consumed energy, expressed as total digestible nutrients or net energy; (b) average body weight, as a measure of "maintenance"; and (c) gain were studied by use of two equations. One equation was f=aw^be^kg and the other was f=aw^b (1+kg) where f=average daily intake of energy, w= average body weight during the feeding period (in pounds), and g= average daily gain (in pounds) and a, b, and k were constants for which values were calculated. The relative value of the two equations was also studied. Growing steer and heifer beef calves which were individually full-fed from weaning, 90 or 180 days of age, to 370 days of age were the source of the data.

Values for constant b were found to be 0.4, 0.6 and 0.72 for the feeding age periods of 90 to 202, 90 to 370, and 202 to 370 days, respectively. Standard errors of estimate tended to be lower for equation (6) than for equation (5); however, use of equation (5) might be preferred because of the assumptions and added work associated with equation (6).

¹ Scientific Article No. A660 Contribution No. 2859 of the University of Maryland Experiment Station (Department of Animal Husbandry).

² Professor of Animal Husbandry.

³ This manuscript is based primarily on the M.S. thesis of this author.

⁴ Assistant Professor of Animal Husbandry.

⁵ The authors are indebted to Mr. W. A. Hendricks, Chief, Research and Development Staff, Agricultural Estimates, A.M.S., U.S.D.A. for his assistance in certain phases of the statistical analysis. They also acknowledge the assistance of Claire L. Tharp who helped with the computations and of Mr. W. E. Tarbutton, Herdsman, whose painstaking work was of great value.