Thirteen male Holstein calves with average age of 14 days were used. Three animals were slaughtered at the beginning of the experiment (reference) and ten others were randomly distributed in two treatments (ground or pelleted feed), and slaughtered at 112 days of age to determine the nutritional requirements. Regression equations of the logarithm of the amount of protein, fat and energy in the body were fitted as a function of the empty of body weight (EBW). The net protein and energy requirements for 1 kg gain of EBW were obtained by deriving the prediction equations of body composition. There were increases in protein, fat and energy contents with increase in body weight. The net protein and energy requirements for empty body weight gain (GEBW) increased when EBW varied from 25.74 to 85.81 kg. The equation was obtained to estimate the retained protein as a function of the mean daily gain (DMG) and retained energy (RE): RP = - 0.297083 + 4.19797 gain of fasting body weight (FGBW) + 0.0926327 RE. The equation obtained to describe the relationship between retained energy (RE), in Mcal, and EBW daily gain (DGEBW), in kg, for a determined EBW starting from the data of the present study was the following: RE = 0.1004 × EBW0.75 × EBWG0.5552. The NEm varied from 1.10 to 2.72 Mcal/day and NEg from 1.42 to 2.46 Mcal/day when the body weight increased from 30 to 100 kg. From 28 to 112 days of age there were protein, fat and energy increases in the empty body composition of the Holstein male calves.
body weight; empty body weight
