Calculating feeding rations

Question 1

What is GE and what does it do?

Answer 1

Gross Energy and is the total chemical energy in food that can be converted into other forms

Question 2

What is DE and what does it do?

Answer 2

Digestible energy and it is the amount of GE that the body is able to digest/ energy in faces

Question 3

What is ME and what does it do?

Answer 3

Metabolisable Energy and it is the energy that can meet an animals daily energy need/ energy expended producing urine and gases

Question 4

What is BMR and what does it do?

Answer 4

Basal Metabolic Rate and it is the amount of energy required to run the basic bodily functions like breathing however doesn’t include movement and digestion

Question 5

Whats RER and what does it do?

Answer 5

Resting Energy Requirement and it is the amount of energy required by a relaxed/ inactive animal in a thermoneutral environment - always larger than the BMR

Question 6

How to calculate the RER?

Answer 6

Calculation for this depends on the animals weight - under 5kg it is body weight x 60