Net energy value of timothy and bromegrass silages for beef cattle

Abstract

Metabolizable energy (ME), net energy for maintenance and net energy for growth of grass silages were evaluated by the comparative slaughter technique using a 2 × 2 × 3 factorial design. Sixty medium frame beef steers (259 ± 29 kg BW) were divided in groups of five and fed during 3 months either Timothy (T) or Bromegrass (B) harvested at stem elongation (S) of the first cut or at boot stage of the aftermath (A). Forages were fed at one of three levels of intake: ad libitum (FF), 80% of FF, or 65% of FF. Silages averaged 26.9% DM, 16.0% CP and 37.7% ADF. Regression of logarithm of heat production (HE) against ME intake were similar for all silages (log HE = 0.00046*ME + 2.4923; r2 = 0.89). From this equation, fasting HE of 311 kJ kg−0.75 d−1, ME for maintenance of 559 kJ kg−0.75 d−1 and efficiency of utilization of energy for maintenance of 56% were determined. Regression of ME intake against retained energy (RE) were similar for all silages. Efficiency of ME utilization for growth was 33% using the regression of ME over RE with a ME requirement for maintenance fixed at 559 kJ kg−0.75 d−1. Net energy for maintenance and growth were similar for all silages, averaging 6.17 and 3.70 MJ kg−1, respectively. The use of a prediction equation based on ADF of forages underestimated ME values of silages by approximately 25%. Moreover, NRC (1984) equations that estimate NE from experimentally estimated ME values tended to overestimate the net energy of our grass silages. Key words: Net energy, grass silages, timothy, bromegrass, beef cattle