Abstract
Net energy accounts for the proportion of energy expenditure attributed to the digestion, metabolism, and absorption of ingested food. Currently, there are no models available to predict net energy density of food for domestic cats. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to measure the heat increment of feeding in cats, and to model the net energy of commercial diets. Metabolizable energy and calorimetry data from two previous studies was reanalyzed to create net energy models in the present study. Energy expenditure was calculated using measurements of CO2 production and O2 consumption. Net energy was determined as the metabolizable energy of the diets minus the heat increment of feeding. The heat increment of feeding was determined as the area under the energy expenditure curve above the resting fed metabolic rate. Eight net energy models were developed using metabolizable energy, 1 of 4 dietary parameters (crude protein, fat, fiber, and starch), and heat increment of feeding values from 0–2 h or 0–21 h. Two hours postprandial, and over the full calorimetry period, the heat increment of feeding amounted for 1.74, and 20.9% of the metabolizable energy, respectively. Of the models tested, the models using crude protein in combination with metabolizable energy as dietary parameters best fit the observed data, thus providing a more accurate estimate of dietary energy availability for cats.
Highlights
Net energy (NE) models have been developed for use with multiple agricultural species such as swine and cattle [1, 2], but to date, they do not exist for the domestic cat
resting fed metabolic rate (RFMR) was used to approximate Basal metabolic rate (BMR), which has been defined as the lowest observed value of energy expended by an animal in a fed state that otherwise meets the criteria for basal metabolism [3]
NE, which accounts for energy spent in the digestion, absorption and metabolism of nutrients, is a more accurate measure of energy directly available to an animal [3]
Summary
Net energy (NE) models have been developed for use with multiple agricultural species such as swine and cattle [1, 2], but to date, they do not exist for the domestic cat. North American pet food industry standards currently use the modified Atwater equation to estimate the metabolizable energy (ME) of pet foods [3, 4]. This equation assigns coefficients to three macronutrients–protein, fat, and carbohydrate (calculated as nitrogen-free extract)–to predict the ME content of a diet [3]. These equations result in inaccurate predictions of dietary energy content [3]. Developing models to accurately predict the available energy density of food intended for cats is critical to provide consumers with optimal feeding recommendations [4].
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