A New Theory of Feed Intake Regulation in Ruminants and its Implications for Forage Quality Research
Publication Date
1993
Description
The low voluntary intake of many roughages is commonly explained by a limited physical capacity of ruminants to process fibrous feeds. Recently, we developed a new theory of feed intake regulation assuming feed consumption to create both benefits for the animal (represented by the intake of net energy for maintenance and gain) and costs (represented by the total oxygen consumption of the feeding animal). For nonreproducing ruminants we have shown that voluntary intake of roughages is close to the optimum feed intake level, i.e., the level at which for the animal the ratio between benefits and costs becomes maximum. According to this new theory, variation in voluntary intake between feeds arises from differences in the efficiency of metabolisable energy utilisation. Metabolic processes presumably affecting this efficiency are mentioned and implications for forage quality research identified.
Citation
Ketelaars, J.J M.H and Tolkamp, B J., "A New Theory of Feed Intake Regulation in Ruminants and its Implications for Forage Quality Research" (2024). IGC Proceedings (1993-2023). 23.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1993/session18/23
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A New Theory of Feed Intake Regulation in Ruminants and its Implications for Forage Quality Research
The low voluntary intake of many roughages is commonly explained by a limited physical capacity of ruminants to process fibrous feeds. Recently, we developed a new theory of feed intake regulation assuming feed consumption to create both benefits for the animal (represented by the intake of net energy for maintenance and gain) and costs (represented by the total oxygen consumption of the feeding animal). For nonreproducing ruminants we have shown that voluntary intake of roughages is close to the optimum feed intake level, i.e., the level at which for the animal the ratio between benefits and costs becomes maximum. According to this new theory, variation in voluntary intake between feeds arises from differences in the efficiency of metabolisable energy utilisation. Metabolic processes presumably affecting this efficiency are mentioned and implications for forage quality research identified.
