SHORT COMMUNICATION
Study on energy metabolism of dairy buffalo heifers
in Guangxi, China
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1
Institute of Dairy Science, Zhejiang University,
Hangzhou 310029, P.R. China
2
Buffalo Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences,
Nanning 530001, P.R. China
3
Guangxi University,
Guangxi 530005, P.R. China
Publication date: 2007-09-17
Corresponding author
X. W. Liang
Buffalo Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences,
Nanning 530001, P.R. China
J. X. Liu
Institute of Dairy Science, Zhejiang University,
Hangzhou 310029, P.R. China
J. Anim. Feed Sci. 2007;16(Suppl. 2):54-58
KEYWORDS
ABSTRACT
Twelve dairy buffalo heifers aged 12-15 months with a body weight of 220 kg, were used in a
randomized complete block design to study energy metabolism. The whole experiment consisted of
2 feeding trials with 20 d in-between interval, each including a digestion-metabolism trial. Animals
were assigned to three levels of dietary net energy. Digestibility and metabolizability of energy were
67.1-71.4% and 55.1-59.2%. Methane loss was 9.9-10.0% of gross energy intake, heat production
and heat increment were 0.534 and 0.203 MJ/kgW0.75/d, respectively. Net energy for growth was
between 23.2-29.1% of gross energy.