Energy Requirements of Beef Cattle: Current Energy Systems and Factors Influencing Energy Requirements for Maintenance

Simple Summary The accurate estimation of energy requirements for present-day genotypes under current feeding conditions is crucial for improving profitability and reducing the environmental impact of the beef industry. Equations for predicting energy requirements of beef cattle according to the Agricultural and Food Research Council (AFRC) are outdated and require an urgent update. The results from literature review confirmed previous reports on the under prediction of energy requirements for maintenance by the AFRC, especially for growing animals. This may have consequences on the efficiency of use of the dietary energy on productive functions. Although much less research has been conducted over the last decade on energy metabolism for suckler cows, the existing data appears to be relevant as a valid reference for updating AFRC recommendations. The present review also revealed the lack of data on the contribution of both animal and diet-related factors influencing on energy requirements for beef cattle and thus conclusions on this regard are difficult to draw. The present review compared features of the UK system for predicting energy requirements in beef cattle with a number of feeding systems developed from research institutes consortiums around the world. In addition, energy requirements for maintenance calculated from studies conducted at the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) in Northern Ireland since the 1990s were compared with compiled data from recent peer-review papers published over the last decade (2009-2020). The mean metabolisable energy requirement for the maintenance (MEm) of growing cattle was 0.672 MJ/kg(0.75) according to values obtained from calorimetry studies conducted at AFBI. This value is respectively 8.2 and 19.5% greater than the MEm values obtained by the Agricultural and Food Research Council (AFRC), and the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine (NASEM) equations, but it is in close agreement with the Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA) approach, when assuming a Bos taurus bull (300 kg LW) and an efficiency for converting energy for maintenance (k(m)) of 0.65. Most of the literature data on energy requirements for the maintenance for this animal category were obtained from studies conducted with Bos indicus animals and their crossbreds in Brazilian conditions with this confirming lower requirements of these animals when compared to pure Bos taurus cattle. A simulation of the total ME requirements calculated for an Angus x Friesian steer (LW = 416 kg) offered good quality grass silage, indicated that both AFRC and NASEM systems overestimate (38.5 and 20.5%, respectively) the observed efficiency of converting ME for growth (k(g)). When the total ME requirements (maintenance + growth) were assessed, both systems underpredicted total ME requirement in 15.8 and 22.1 MJ/d. The mean MEm requirements for suckler cows obtained from the literature (0.596 MJ/kg(0.75)) is on average 19.1% greater than predictions given by both AFRC and INRA (lactation) equations when considering a 550 kg cow and a k(m) value of 0.72. Although no differences in net energy requirements for maintenance (NEm) were detected between dry and lactating suckler cows, as expected the later displayed greater variation as a result of differences in milk production. On this regard, the INRA model recognise increased NEm requirements for lactating animals compared to dry cows. The re-evaluation of the concept of diet metabolisability and the analysis of existing data on compensatory growth responses are recommended for future updates of the British system (AFRC) having in to account the particularities of grass-based systems in the UK.

Automated summary

Accurate estimation of energy requirements is crucial for improving profitability and reducing environmental impact in the beef industry. Outdated equations for predicting energy requirements by the AFRC need urgent updates, as confirmed by literature reviews. There is a lack of data on factors influencing energy requirements for beef cattle. The comparison of UK system with other international systems revealed discrepancies in predicting energy requirements.