Energy

Energy is supplied by dietary nutrients (i.e., fats or oils, carbohydrates, and amino acids)
and is necessary for growth and egg production. For poultry, apparent metabolizable
energy (defined as gross energy minus losses of energy in feces, urine, and gaseous
products) is typically used to express the available-energy content of feed ingredients
and complete diets. However, as illustrated in the table below, differences in the
metabolizable energy value assigned to feed ingredients of the same name differ
substantially among regions. Some of the differences can be attributed to differences in
the feed ingredients' moisture content, but even when the metabolizable energy value is
expressed on a dry matter basis, the assigned energy values differ. As a result, the
calculated energy content of a given diet varies substantially depending on which
assigned energy values were used for the individual feed ingredients.

Table values of selected feed ingredients showing differences in metabolizable

energy values (as-fed values)

1
 Feedstuffs 2008 Reference issue and buyers guide. Feedstuffs,
September 10, 2008. Minnetonka, Minnesota, USA.
2
 Rostagno, H.S. (ed.). 2005. Brazilian tables for poultry and swine.
Composition of feedstuffs and nutritional requirements. 2nd ed.
Departamento de Zootecnia, Universidade Federal de Vicosa, Brazil.
3
 Centraal Veevoederbureau (CVB). 2008. CVB Table booklet
feeding of poultry. CVB-series no. 45. (values of ME for laying hens,
"MEIa," are shown)
4
 Sauvant, D.,J.-M Perez and G. Tran (eds). 2004. Tables of
composition and nutritional value of feed materials. 2nd rev. ed.
INRA-AFZ, France.
5
 Janssen, W.M.M.A. (ed.). 1989. European table of energy values
for poultry feedstuffs. 3rd ed. Spederholt Center for Poultry Research
and Information Services, Beekbergen, The Netherlands.
Because energy consumption is the main nutritional factor that determines the rate of
egg production, the flock's current rate of egg production (or egg-production curve) is the
best indicator of dietary energy adequacy. Comparisons of the flock's body weight with
the standards is also helpful in determining if the flock is consuming sufficient energy.
See also Feeding the Laying Hen.