Energy and protein utilization for maintenance and growth in Omani ram lambs in hot climates. I. Estimates of energy requirements and efficiency

Energy requirements for maintenance and growth were estimated by comparative slaughter in Omani male lambs during the hot summer months (July-October: maximum temperature, 48°C). Weaned lambs (n = 10 per diet) were fed one of three totally mixed, 160 g CP/kg DM diets that contained 600, 400 or 200 g rhodesgrass hay/kg for low (9.98 MJ/kg, medium (10.3 MJ/kg) and high (11.4 MJ/kg) energy contents, respectively. All diets were balanced to meet the minimum nutritional needs for maximum growth. The trial lasted for 113-114 days. The purpose of having three diets was to induce a broad spectrum of growth rates that could be used in regression analysis (tested for linear, quadratic and exponential effects). Metabolizable energy (ME) intake was regressed on live weight (LW), empty body weight, tissue energy and tissue protein gain and vice versa. Coefficients of determinations were not significantly improved by quadratic or logarithmic regressions over linear relationships. Geometric mean regressions were used to control further biases due to major axis dependence when Y is regressed on X or vice versa. Based on tissue energy gain, the best estimates of ME required for maintenance (ME_m) and gain (ME_g) were 526 kJ/kg LW^0.75/d and 42.1 kJ/kg LW^0.75/g LW gain, respectively. Net energy values for maintenance (NE_m) and gain (NE_g) were 278 kJ/kg LW^0.75/d and 20.6 kJ/kg LW^0.75/g LW gain, respectively. These equations predicted ME_m and NE_m requirements that were similar to or slightly greater than those established by the US National Research Council (1985) and the UK Agricultural and Food Research Council (1993) for growing male lambs. The ME_g and NE_g requirements were substantially greater (by 43-89 %) in this respect. Efficiency values were calculated as net energy available for maintenance or gain divided by the metabolizable energy available for maintenance or gain. The efficiency of metabolizable energy used for maintenance and gain was 0.50 and 0.52, respectively, and did not appear to be much different from values for other breeds of sheep in temperate climates. Dietary energy concentrations did not affect the efficiency of energy deposition. The data suggest that Omani sheep in hot climates have greater NE_g requirements, and consequently ME_g requirements, than other breeds of sheep in temperate climates.