MAINTENANCE ENERGY REQUIREMENT OF THE ROOSTER AND INFLUENCE OF PLANE OF NUTRITION ON METABOLIZABLE ENERGY

Abstract

Arnould’s method can be applied to the adult rooster to estimate the energy maintenance requirement, although estimation of the weight gain requirement is inaccurate with this method. The average value obtained of 117 kcal metabolizable energy per kg body weight per day for maintenance requirement agrees well with previously reported estimates but is higher than values reported for the laying hen. Maintenance requirement for energy appears to be very variable, the coefficient of variation being 13% which equals that found for basal metabolism. Maintenance requirement is correlated neither with body weight nor with endogenous N excretion. It is concluded that metabolic and endogenous energy should be taken into account for correcting metabolizable energy values when food intake is close to maintenance requirement, especially with adult birds.