Scientists have discovered new formulas to determine the amount of feed required to maintain life – called basal metabolism – in farm animals.
In recently published articles in the Journal of Animal Science, researchers from the United States Department of Agriculture argue that in ewes, factors such as age, breed and nutritional history need to be taken into consideration as well as weight when predicting basal metabolism.
The discovery should lead to more efficient use of feed and may save producers money.
Livestock use feed to support their basal metabolism, maintain weight and grow. Changes in any of these can change how efficiently feed is used for production.
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Metabolic rates decrease as animals become older.
Efficient feed use is important because feed accounts for about 60 percent of the total production cost of cattle and sheep.
USDA researchers are conducting studies to help farmers develop low-cost feeding strategies, focusing on how much feed is actually needed and how animals use it.
Their research shows that the breed of an animal affects how fast its metabolism decreases as it ages.
Since it is not practical to create separate feed requirements for each breed of sheep, the scientists have proposed that breed differences in basal metabolism can be accounted for by describing the maturity of the animal rather than its age.
Studies will also try to determine if similar relationships occur in cattle.
