ENERGY REQUIREMENTS

ENERGY REQUIREMENTS

In this section we will discuss the amount of energy needed to perform various activities as well as maintaining normal homeostatic levels

Energy requirements for maintenance

Asian leopard cat [27]

Asian leopard cats weigh anywhere from 1.7kg-7.1kg. Therefore, the average weight of an Asian leopard cat would be 4.4 kg. The BMR for the Asian leopard can be calculated using the standard BMR equation for vertebrate eaters:

BMR = 91.8W ^ 0.813

where W is the weight of the animal in kg. Therefore the BMR of an Asian leopard cat is:

BMR = 91.8(4.4)^0.813

= 704.20 kcal/ day kg

An exact equation for growth DEE in Asian leopard cats could not be found. However, Robbins [27], provided an equation that give us a good estimate of growth DEE.

DEE= 2.3 x BMR

Using the BMR value calculated above, we can solve for DEE.

DEE = 2.3 x 306.17

= 704.50 kcal/day

An exact equation for gestation and lactation DEE in Asian leopard cats could not be found. However, Robbins [27], provided an equation that give us a good estimate of these two values.

DEE gestation = 2.7-3.1 (avg 2.9) x BMR

DEE lactation = 4-7 (avg 5.5) x BMR

Using the BMR value calculated above, we can solve for DEE of gestation and lactation.

DEE gestation = 2.9 x 306.17

= 887.89 kcal/day

DEE lactation = 5.5 x 306.17

= 1683.94 kcal/day

How much food does it take to sustain BMR and DEE ?

If we use the ME of Whitehead rat, we can simply calculate the amount of food needed to sustain these values by dividing the ME of the food by the BMR or DEE.

ME whitehead rat (calculated in diet and nutrition): 3,360 kcal/kg

Therefore, the amount of food required to sustain BMR is:

306.17 kcal/day / 3,360 kcal /kg

= 0.0911 kg/day

0.0911 x 100 g/kg

= 9.11 g/day

Therefore, the amount of food required to sustain DEE

704.20 kcal/day / 3,360 kcal /kg

= 0.209 kg/day

0.209 kg/day x 100 g/kg

= 20.9 g/day

Snow leopard [27]

Snow leopard weigh approx. 37.5 kg for females and 50 kg for males. The BMR for the snow leopard can be calculated using the standard BMR equation for vertebrate eaters:

BMR = 91.8W ^ 0.813

where W is the weight of the animal in kg. Therefore the BMR of a female Snow leopard is:

BMR = 91.8(37.5)^0.813

= 1,747.95 kcal/ day kg

And for males the BMR is:

BMR = 91.8(50)^0.813

= 2,208.54 kcal/ day kg

During the winter we can expect the BMR to be lower than it is is then summer. The most likely reason behind this is due to the fact that there is less locomotion done by the animal during winter months.

An exact equation for growth DEE in snow leopards could not be found. However, Robbins [27], provided an equation that give us a good estimate of growth DEE.

DEE= 2.3 x BMR

Using the BMR value calculated above, we can solve for DEE for females.

DEE = 2.3 x 1,747.95

= 4,020.29 kcal/day

And the DEE for males is:

DEE = 2.3 x 2,208.59

=5,079.64 kcal/day

An exact equation for gestation and lactation DEE in snow leopard could not be found. However, Robbins [27], provided an equation that give us a good estimate of these two values.

DEE gestation = 2.7-3.1 (avg 2.9) x BMR

DEE lactation = 4-7 (avg 5.5) x BMR

Using the BMR value calculated above, we can solve for DEE of gestation and lactation.

DEE gestation = 2.9 x 1,747.95

= 5,069.06 kcal/day

DEE lactation = 5.5 x1,747.95

= 9,613.73 kcal/day

How much food does it take to sustain BMR and DEE ?

If we use the ME of Blue sheep, we can simply calculate the amount of food needed to sustain these values by dividing the ME of the food by the BMR or DEE.

ME Blue sheep (calculated in diet and nutrition):1,308.7kcal/kg

Therefore, the amount of food required to sustain BMR in females is:

1,747.95 kcal/day / 1,308.7 kcal /kg

= 1.34 kg/day

And in males the amount of food required to sustain BMR is:

2,208.54 kcal/day /1,308.7 kcal /kg

= 1.69 kg/day

Therefore, the amount of food required to sustain DEE in females is:

4,020.29 kcal/day / 1,308.7 kcal /kg

= 3.07 kg/day

And the amount of food needed for males to sustain DEE is:

5,079.64 kcal/day / 1,308.7 kcal /kg

= 3.88 kg/day