ENERGY REQUIREMENTS OF GROWING SAHIWAL × FRIESIAN HEIFERS IN MALAYSIA

Fourteen Sahiwal ${\times}$ Friesian crossbred heifers were used in a 10-wk feeding trial to determine maintenance energy requirements and efficiency of gain. The heifers were individually fed with a diet consisting of 30% dry grass and 70% concentrates at either 110, 140 or 180% of the anticipated maintenance requirement ($494kJ\;ME/kg^{0.75}/day$). Liveweight of individual heifers was measured weekly to calculate diet requirements and average daily gain (ADG). Diet digestibility was determined for all heifers to determine ME intake. Retained energy (RE) of individual heifers was determined from changes in total body fat and protein using a TOH isotope dilution procedure and, assuming calorific values of 39.3 and 23.6 kJ/g for fat and protein respectively. The estimated ME for maintenance was 433 and $470kJ/kg^{0.75}/day$ by liveweight (ADG) equilibrium and energy (RE) equilibrium analysis respectively. ME requirement for one g of liveight gain was 28 kJ.