NE for Growing/Finishing Beef Cattle NE values of feeds + feed intake can be used to: Predict amount of feed required for particular gain (programmed feeding) For example, used in heifer development
600 lb calf (1,200 finished weight) Want 1.0 lb/d ADG How much alfalfa do we need to feed? 2 Programmed Feeding
Requirements (from Table 7): 5.16 Mcal NE m for maintenance 1.42 Mcal NE g for gain Alfalfa hay feed composition 1.12 Mcal/kg NE m 0.54 Mcal/kg NE g 3 Programmed Feeding
5.16 Mcal NE m /1.12 Mcal/kg NE m = 4.6 kg alfalfa for maintenance 1.42 Mcal NE g /0.54 Mcal/kg NE g = 2.63 kg alfalfa for gain Total = 4.6 kg kg = 7.23 kg alfalfa Convert to lbs 7.23 kg /0.454 = 15.9 lb alfalfa 4 Programmed Feeding