METHODS FOR CALCULATING METABOLIZABLE ENERGY REQUIREMENTS FOR PIGS OF LARGE WHITE BREED

Abstract

Methods are suggested to calculate metabolizable energy requirements for meat-and-porkpurpose fattening pigs depending on a planned productivity level. Investigations carried out have shown that metabolizable energy is a scientifically-grounded criterion for determining animals’ needs for energy. The methods were developed at the Krasnoyarsk Research Institute of Animal Husbandry using the facilities of the Agroindustrial Holding Vostok Co Ltd (Krasnoyarsk Territory). The chemical composition of pork was analyzed at the Krasnoyarsk Territorial Veterinary Laboratory. The object of study was pigs of Large White breed. The research method was factorial one. The technique for rationing animals’ needs for metabolizable energy allows using the factorial method based on the knowledge of how much energy is needed for certain physiological functions (energy for sustaining life, energy of heat production at nutrient metabolism, energy of heat and cold provision, energy for producing products). Daily metabolizable energy requirement of fattening pigs of Large White breed was calculated from the equations at the optimum temperature and at deviation from the critical temperature. The technique for rationing animals’ needs for metabolizable energy makes it possible to forecast exactly production performance of animals depending on their genetic potential, physiological state and keeping conditions. It allows pig producers to organize science-based feeding of animals and produce high-quality products with minimum costs for feeds, which make up 70% of pork production costs.