Journal of Animal Science, Vol 68, Issue 8 2279-2288, Copyright © 1990 by American Society of Animal Science

JOURNAL ARTICLE

Energy requirements for maintenance of crossbred beef cattle with different genetic potential for milk

M. Montano-Bermudez, M. K. Nielsen and G. H. Deutscher
University of Nebraska, Lincoln 68583-0908.

Maintenance energy requirements were estimated in two gestation and one lactation feeding trials for three groups of cows. All cows in the second gestation trial completed the first gestation and lactation trials. The three groups were chosen to represent cattle similar in growth rate and mature size but different in amount of milk provided to their calves. The low (L) group included Hereford x Angus, the medium (M) group included Red Poll x Angus and the high (H) group included Milking Shorthorn x Angus cows. Cows were individually fed to maintain net body weight (minus gravid uterus for gestation) constant. Allowances were made in energy intake for gestation and lactation. Cow weights were adjusted to an average condition score in each trial. Daily maintenance requirements during gestation were 18% lower than those during lactation. The H and M cows required 12% more energy per unit metabolic weight than L cows to maintain body weight during both gestation and lactation. Differences in milk production explained 23% of the variation in maintenance requirements, suggesting that important differences exist beyond those associated with milk production potential. Repeatabilities of maintenance requirement measurements ranged from .44 to .64. Maintenance requirements for calves under feedlot conditions in the postweaning phase were estimated from data collected from 494 calves, half-sibs and offspring of the cows described previously. Energy requirements were 11% higher for the H and M groups than for the L group.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				J. L. Williams, D. J. Garrick, and S. E. Speidel Reducing bias in maintenance energy expected progeny difference by accounting for selection on weaning and yearling weights J Anim Sci, May 1, 2009; 87(5): 1628 - 1637. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. Calegare, M. M. Alencar, I. U. Packer, C. L. Ferrell, and D. P. D. Lanna Cow/calf preweaning efficiency of Nellore and Bos taurus x Bos indicus crosses J Anim Sci, February 1, 2009; 87(2): 740 - 747. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. Calegare, M. M. Alencar, I. U. Packer, and D. P. D. Lanna Energy requirements and cow/calf efficiency of Nellore and Continental and British Bos taurus x Nellore crosses J Anim Sci, October 1, 2007; 85(10): 2413 - 2422. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. K. Kahi, T. Oguni, Y. Sumio, and H. Hirooka Genetic relationships between growth and carcass traits and profitability in Japanese Brown cattle J Anim Sci, February 1, 2007; 85(2): 348 - 355. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. M. McDonald and M. K. Nielsen Correlated responses in maternal performance following divergent selection for heat loss in mice J Anim Sci, February 1, 2006; 84(2): 300 - 304. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Derno, W. Jentsch, M. Schweigel, S. Kuhla, C. C. Metges, and H.-D. Matthes Measurements of heat production for estimation of maintenance energy requirements of Hereford steers J Anim Sci, November 1, 2005; 83(11): 2590 - 2597. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. R. Johnson, D. L. Lalman, M. A. Brown, L. A. Appeddu, D. S. Buchanan, and R. P. Wettemann Influence of milk production potential on forage dry matter intake by multiparous and primiparous Brangus females J Anim Sci, July 1, 2003; 81(7): 1837 - 1846. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. R. Wesolowski, M. F. Allan, M. K. Nielsen, and D. Pomp Evaluation of hypothalamic gene expression in mice divergently selected for heat loss Physiol Genomics, April 16, 2003; 13(2): 129 - 137. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]