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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 64(15)

Estimating net energy requirements of male Djallonke sheep

Ouermi Oualyou A , Isidore B. Gnanda A , Nouhoun Zampaligre B , Michel Kere C , Kadiatou Traore B , Gildas L. M. Yoda B , V. M. C. Bougouma-Yameogo C , Mulubran Balehegn D , Adegbola Adesogan D and Ermias Kebreab https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0833-1352 E *
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Centre National de Recherche Scientifique et Technologique (CNRST)/Institut de l’Environment et de Recherches Agricoles (INERA), Centre de Recherches Environnementales,Agricoles et de Formation (CREAF) de Kamboinsé, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.

B Centre National de Recherche Scientifique et Technologique (CNRST), Institut de l’Environnement et de Recherches Agricoles (INERA), Station de Farako-bâ, Bobo Dioulasso, Burkina Faso.

C Université Nazi Boni, Bobo Dioulasso, Burkina Faso.

D Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Livestock System, Department of Animal Sciences and Food Systems Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.

E Department of Animal Science, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA.

* Correspondence to: ekebreab@ucdavis.edu

Handling Editor: Robert Dixon

Animal Production Science 64, AN23294 https://doi.org/10.1071/AN23294
Submitted: 3 September 2023  Accepted: 9 September 2024  Published: 25 September 2024

© 2024 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing

Abstract

Context

Energy requirements in sheep can vary significantly due to various factors, including age, breed, sex and environmental conditions. Genetic selection and crossbreeding further contribute to this variability. Although guidelines from the US and UK national research councils are commonly used for formulating sheep diets, they may not adequately account for the unique characteristics of sheep in Africa.

Aims

The study aimed to estimate the net maintenance energy requirement of male Djallonke sheep. This estimation will provide a basis for comparing the energy requirements of Djallonke sheep with national recommendations and recent estimates for other sheep breeds.

Methods

Sixteen entire male Djallonke sheep were selected and grouped by weight. They were then randomly allocated to four treatment groups in a 4 × 4 Latin square design. The sheep were fed to achieve intake levels ranging from 1 to 1.75 multiples of their maintenance energy requirement. Gas exchange data were collected using the GreenFeed system over a 3-day period at the conclusion of each treatment period. Heat production was calculated using the established Brouwer’s equation. A linear regression equation was developed to relate heat production to metabolisable energy intake scaled by metabolic bodyweight to calculate the net energy for maintenance.

Key results

The estimated net energy for maintenance for male Djallonke sheep was determined to be 0.354 MJ/kg BW0.75. This estimation indicated that the energy requirements of male Djallonke sheep exceeded the recommendations provided by the US National Research Council and the UK Agricultural and Food Research Council. However, it closely aligned with an updated estimate of 0.358 MJ/kg BW0.75.

Conclusions

Based on the study’s findings, male Djallonke sheep have higher energy requirements for maintenance than what is commonly recommended by existing guidelines. Therefore, it is advisable to update ration formulation software for male Djallonke sheep to better reflect their actual energy requirements for maintenance.

Implications

These results have practical implications for the formulation of diets and feeding management practices for male Djallonke sheep. Adhering to updated energy requirement estimates can help improve the efficiency and productivity of sheep production in the context of Djallonke sheep farming.

Keywords: Djallonke sheep, diet formulation, efficiency of energy utilisation, environment, heat production, linear regression, metabolisable energy, net energy.

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