Predicting True Metabolizable Energy, Gross Energy, Carbohydrate, and Proximate Analysis Values by Assuming Additivity

Abstract

Seven feedingstuffs and 42 mixtures thereof were assayed under routine quality control conditions for true metabolizable energy (TME), gross energy, proximate constituents, and starch plus sugars expressed as glucose. Comparisons were made between the observed analytical values of the mixtures and the values predicted from the data describing their constituent parts by assuming additivity.The largest differences between observed and predicted values were associated with a small number of mixtures and may have resulted from errors in mixing, changes in moisture content, or analytical variation. The differences between observed and predicted TME values were similar to the differences in the other analytical values; the average standard error of prediction was about 2.5% of the observed TME value.