SUPPORTING INFORMATION
Table S1. Dietary composition, animal information and references of the database individual
studies.
n
Forage (F)†
Concentrate (C) ‡
Year
Reference§
1, 2, 3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
Animal
Category*
LT, NL
NL
LT, NL
LT, NL
LT, NL
NL
LT, NL
LT, NL
LT, NL
LT, NL
LT, NL
LT, NL, H
LT, NL, H
LT, NL
LT, NL
LT, NL
LT, NL
LT
LT, NL
LT, NL
134
29
78
7
24
8
30
10
10
19
93
110
32
56
28
9
33
7
24
25
AW, CA
AH
ALC, BH
AH
PCBH
PCBH
BH
TH
AS, CAH
CS, AS
CS
CS
A
CS, LGHS
AH, GA
TH
A
AH
AH, TH
1963-1965
1965
1965
1966
1967
1967
1967
1967
1967
1968
1968
1969-1970
1970 - 1971
1971
1971
1971
1972
1972
1972
1972
1, 2, 3
4
5
6
-
23
24
LT, NL
NL
29
35
H
GA
1973
1973
-
25
LT
10
H
1974
-
26
27
28
H
S
LT
32
68
13
OGS
AH, OGH
A
1974
1975
1975
7
-
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
H
NL
LT, NL
S
LT, NL
H
S
S
S
LT, NL
LT, NL
32
8
114
32
102
36
91
32
30
45
56
OGS
FCFG
AH
OGS
CS
AS, OGS
CS
AS, OGS
AS
CS
CS, A
CM, SBOM
CM, SBOM
CM, SBOM
CM, SBM, STBM
CM, SBOM, STBM
CM, SBOM, STBM
CM, SBOM
CM, SBM, STBM
CM, WB, CO, SM
CM, WB, CO, SM
CM, SBOM
CM, B, SBOM
CM, SM, GO, WC, RB
CM, B, SBOM
CM, SBOM, M
WC, GC CC, SM, M
Unknown
CM, GO, WB, SBOM, M
CM, GO, WB, SBOM,
M, BP
CM, GO, WB, SBOM, M
CM, GO, WB, SBOM,
M, W, BBDG, DDCG
CM, GO, WB, SBOM,
M, W, BBDG, DDCG
SBM
CC, SBM, M,
WB, C, B, SBM, M,
BBDG, DDCG
CM, SBM
LM, CM, SBM
C, SBM
GB, LM, CGM
BP, GB, BBDG, CGM
1976
1976
1976
1977 - 1978
1978
1979
1979 - 1980
1979-1980
1980 - 1981
1980
1981
8, 9, 10
11, 12
12, 13
14, 15
16
Study
40
41
42
43
H
H
LT, NL
LT, NL
80
23
54
75
CS
GA, GH
CS, AS
WAS, CS
44
LT, NL
48
CS, GAH
45
46
47
48
49
50
H
LT
S
S
LT
LT, NL
33
18
52
95
5
60
WS
CS, AH
AS, OGS
CA
CS
CS, AS, EC
51
H
17
52
H
85
53
54
LT, NL
NL
50
24
AS, CS
AS, CS, EC,
GAH
CAH
AH
CC, GC, SBM
GB, SBM
GB
WECM, HMWEC,
HMCM
GB, DBP, BDG, GC,
CGM, SM
CC, CTH, M,SBM
GC, GB, GO, SBM
CC, SBM, M
BM, LM, CGM
DSC, HMSC, HMEC,
SBM
SBM
1980 - 1981
1980 - 1981
1982
1983
17
1982
-
1982 - 1983
1983
1983-1984
1984 - 1985
1985
1985
18, 19
-
1986
20
DSC, HMSC, HMEC
1986 - 1987
-
1986-1987
1988
-
1988
1988
21, 22, 23
24
1989
-
1991
1991
1992
1994
1995
25
26
-
HMEC, HMSC, DSC
DSC, HMSC, HMEC,
HME, GM
55
S
28
AH
CC, SBM
56
LT, NL
54
AS, CS
B, BM, GC, DDCG,
SBM, FM, ML
57
LT, NL
70
AS, CS
WCS, CM, CTM, CTH,
SBM, FM, BM
58
S
30
GAH,
GC, SBM
59
LT, NL
48
CS, AH
GSC, DW, SBM, RCSB
60
LT
17
AS, OGH
GSC, GB, SBM
61
LT, NL
48
Unknown
Unknown
62
LT
30
Unknown
Unknown
*
LT = Lactating cows, NL = Non-lactating cows, H = Heifers, S = Steers.
†
AW =Alfalfa Wafer, CA = Chopped Alfalfa, AH = Alfalfa Hay, AFL = Alfalfa Late Cut, BH = Bromegrass Hay,
PCBH = Pelleted and Chopped Bromegrass Hay, TH = Timothy Hay, AS = Alfalfa Silage, CAH = Chopped
Alfalfa Hay, CS = Corn Silage, A = Alfalfa, LGHS = Legume-Grass Hay Silage, WAS = Wilted Alfalfa Silage, H=
Hay, GA = Ground Alfalfa, GAH = Ground Alfalfa Hay, EC = Earlage Corn, OGH = Orchard Grass Hay, OGS =
Orchard Grass Silage, GH = Grass Hay, WS = Wheat Straw.
‡
CM = Corn Meal, SBOM = Soybean Oil Meal, GC = Ground Corn, B = Barley, WB = Wheat Bran, DBP = Dried
Beet Pulp, SBM = Soybean Meal, CO = Crimped Oats, GO = Ground Oats, WC = Whole Corn, RB = Rolled
Barley, M = Molasses, GC = Ground Corn, CC = Cracked Corn, BP = Beet Pulp, BBDG = Barley Brewers Dried
Grain, DDCG = Corn Distillers Dried Grain, C = Corn, LM = Linseed Meal, Ground Barley, WECM = Whole Ear
Corn Meal, HMEC = High Moisture Ear Corn, HMCM = High Moisture Corn Meal, BDG = Brewer’s Dried Grain,
BM = Barley Meal, DSC = Dry Shelled Corn, HMSC = High Moisture Shelled Corn, HME = High Moisture
Earlage, GM = Grain Mix, BM = Blood Meal, FM = Fish Meal, ML = Megalac, WCS = Whole cottonseed, CTM =
Cottonseed meal, CTH = Cottonseed Hulls, GSC = Ground Shelled Corn, DW = Dried Whey, RCSB = Raw
Cracked Soybeans, GB = Ground Barley.
§
Publications listed here are referent to individual publications. Some trials were pooled and published elsewhere.
References of Table S1.
1. Flatt WP, Moore LA, Hooven NW, Plowman RD (1965) Energy metabolism studies with a
high producing lactating dairy cow. Journal of Dairy Science, 48, 797.
2. Flatt WP. et al (1969) Energy utilization by high producing dairy cows. I. Experimental
design, ration composition, digestibility data, and animal performance during energy balance
trials. In: Proceedings of the 4th Symposium of Energy Metabolism in Farm Animals.
European Association of Animal Production, 12, 221.
3. Flatt WP, Moe PW, Munson AW, Cooper T (1969) Energy utilization by high producing
dairy cows. II. Summary of energy balance experiments with lactating Holstein cows. In:
Proceedings of the 4th Symposium of Energy Metabolism in Farm Animals. European
Association of Animal Production, 12, 235.
4. Moe PW, Tyrrell HF (1972) Net energy value for lactation of high and low protein diets
containing corn silage. Journal of Dairy Science, 55, 318-324.
5. Tyrrell HF, Moe PW (1972) Net energy value for lactation of a high and low concentrate
ration containing corn silage. Journal of Dairy Science, 55, 1106-1112.
6. Tyrrell HF, Moe PH (1974) Net energy value of a corn and a barley ration for lactation.
Journal of Dairy Science, 57, 451-458.
7. Rumsey TS, Tyrrell HF, Dinius DA, Moe PW, Cross HA (1981) Effects of diethylstilbestrol
on tissue gain and carcass merit of feedlot beef steers. Journal of Animal Science, 53, 589600.
8. Tyrrell HF, Waldo DR (1979) Effect of formaldehyde and formic acid treatment of
orchardgrass silage and protein supplementation on energy and nitrogen retention of Holstein
steers. Journal of Animal Science, 49 (Supplement 1), 414.
9. Waldo DR, Tyrrell HF (1979) Effect of formaldehyde and formic acid treatment of
orchardgrass silage and protein supplementation on intake, growth, feed conversion, and
slaughter-balance of Holstein steers. Journal of Animal Science, 49 (Supplement 1), 416.
10. Waldo DR, Tyrrell HF (1980) The relation of insoluble nitrogen intake to gain, energy
retention, and nitrogen retention in Holstein steers. Proceedings of the 3rd Symposium of
Protein Metabolism and Nutrition. European Association of Animal Production, 2, 572.
11. Goering HK, Waldo DR, Tyrrell HF, Thomson DJ (1991) Composition of formaldehyde- and
formic acid-treated alfalfa and orchardgrass silages harvested at two maturities and their
effects on intake and growth by Holstein heifers. Journal of Animal Science, 69, 4634-4643.
12. Tyrrell HF, Thomson DJ, Waldo DR, Goering HK, Haaland GL (1992) Utilization of energy
and nitrogen by yearling Holstein cattle fed direct-cut alfalfa or orchardgrass ensiled with
formic acid plus formaldehyde. Journal of Animal Science, 70, 3163-3177.
13. Thomson DJ, Waldo DR, Goering HK, Tyrrell HF (1991) Voluntary intake, growth rate, and
tissue retention by Holstein steers fed formaldehyde- and formic acid-treated alfalfa and
orchardgrass silages. Journal of Animal Science, 69, 4644-4659.
14. Waldo DR, Haaland GL (1982) Effect of formaldehyde and formic acid treatment of alfalfa
silage and protein supplementation on energy and nitrogen retention of Holstein steers.
Journal of Animal Science, 55 (Supplement 1), 472.
15. Waldo DR, Tyrrell HF (1982) Effect of formaldehyde and formic acid treatment of alfalfa
silage and protein supplementation on intake, growth, feed conversion and slaughter balance
on Holstein steers. Journal of Animal Science, 55 (Supplement 1), 473.
16. Tyrell HF. et al (1982) Effect of growth hormone on utilization of energy by lactating
Holstein cows. In: Proceedings of the 9th Symposium of Energy Metabolism in Farm
Animals. European Association of Animal Production, 29, 46-49.
17. Tyrrell HF, Varga GA (1987) Energy value for lactation of rations containing ground whole
ear maize or maize meal both conserved dry or ensiled at high moisture. Proceedings of the
10th Symposium of Energy Metabolism in Farm Animals. European Association of Animal
Production, 32, 308-309.
18. Varga GA, Tyrrell HF, Huntington GB, Waldo DR, Glenn BP (1990) Utilization of nitrogen
and energy by Holstein steers fed formaldehyde- and formic acid-treated alfalfa or
orchardgrass silage at two intakes. Journal of Animal Science, 68, 3780-3791.
19. Waldo DR, Varga GA, Huntington GB, Glenn BP, Tyrrell HF (1990) Energy components of
growth in Holstein steers fed formaldehyde- and formic acid-treated alfalfa or orchardgrass
silages at equalized intakes of dry matter. Journal of Animal Science, 68, 3792-3804.
20. Waldo D. R (1987) Effect of diet and daily gain on body composition of replacement
Holstein Heifers: group two. Journal of Animal Science, 70 (Supplement 1), 109.
21. Lapierre H et al. (1992) Effects of growth hormone-releasing factor and feed intake on
energy metabolism in growing beef steers: net hormone metabolism by portal-drained viscera
and liver. Journal of Animal Science, 70, 742-751.
22. Reynolds C. K. et al. (1992) Effects of growth hormone-releasing factor and feed intake on
energy metabolism in growing beef steers: net nutrient metabolism by portal-drained viscera
and liver. Journal of Animal Science, 70, 752-763.
23. Lapierre H et al. (1992) Effects of growth hormone-releasing factor and feed intake on
energy metabolism in growing beef steers: whole-body energy and nitrogen metabolism.
Journal of Animal Science, 70, 764-772.
24. Andrew SM, Tyrrell HF, Reynolds CK, Erdman RA (1991) Net energy for lactation of
calcium salts of long-chain fatty acids for cows fed silage-based diets. Journal of Dairy
Science, 74, 2588-2600.
25. Casper DP, Glenn BP, Reynolds CK (1993) Energy metabolism of lactating dairy cows fed
two formaldehyde- and formic acid- treated forages with two nonstructural carbohydrates
sources. Journal of Dairy Science, 76 (Supplement 1), 308.
26. Casper DP, Glenn BP, Reynolds CK (1993) Energy metabolism of lactating dairy cows fed
two formaldehyde- and formic acid-treated forages with two nonstructural carbohydrate
sources. Journal of Dairy Science, 76 (Supplement 1), 209.
Table S2. Dietary nutrient composition and animal status summary statistics of the four subdatasets (Lactating cows, non-lactating cows, heifers and steers).
Item*
LACTATING COWS†
NDF (% of DM)
ADF (% of DM)
ME (MJ/kg DM)
CP (% of DM)
EE (% of DM)
DMI (kg/d)
BW (kg)
Milk Yield (kg/d)
Milk CP (%)
Milk Fat (%)
DIM (days)
CH4 (MJ/d)
Ym (% of GEI)
NON-LACTATING COWS†
NDF (% of DM)
ADF (% of DM)
ME (MJ/kg DM)
CP (% of DM)
EE (% of DM)
DMI (kg/d)
BW (kg)
CH4 (MJ/d)
Ym (% of GEI)
HEIFERS†
NDF (% of DM)
ADF (% of DM)
ME (MJ/kg DM)
CP (% of DM)
EE (% of DM)
DMI (kg/d)
BW (kg)
CH4 (MJ/d)
Ym (% of GEI)
STEERS†
NDF (% of DM)
ADF (% of DM)
ME (MJ/kg DM)
CP (% of DM)
EE (% of DM)
DMI (kg/d)
BW (kg)
CH4 (MJ/d)
Ym (% of GEI)
*
Mean
Min
Max
SD
34.28
19.80
10.83
16.20
2.78
16.47
594.2
23.30
3.25
3.67
160.8
16.57
5.35
14.91
7.66
6.82
5.16
0.99
3.94
301.5
0.10
2.30
1.42
11
3.81
1.59
76.14
47.08
14.60
23.51
7.01
29.40
854.1
56.61
5.75
7.60
488
30.63
8.79
7.47
4.25
0.87
2.50
0.97
4.30
88.57
10.29
0.40
0.78
82.09
5.11
1.09
36.26
21.60
10.92
15.95
2.67
6.68
668.2
8.99
7.35
13.99
4.99
6.48
4.92
0.84
2.33
327.7
2.34
2.89
74
47.39
13.68
21.79
7.64
13.44
893.0
17.95
10.40
9.96
6.93
1.13
2.45
0.94
2.04
88.36
2.38
1.22
41.20
24.64
11.08
15.62
2.93
5.33
344.7
6.65
6.49
13.15
4.28
6.77
10.39
0.89
1.77
195.1
2.67
2.84
78.29
48.33
14.27
23.60
6.28
12.78
542.0
13.76
10.50
14.94
11.37
1.21
2.86
1.07
1.60
72.92
2.09
1.19
35.78
21.58
11.42
15.87
3.62
5.07
316.5
6.06
6.34
18.71
7.50
8.16
10.83
0.66
2.09
168.2
2.59
1.93
74.73
50.90
14.10
25.35
7.55
11.12
630.7
13.59
9.44
14.72
12.13
1.04
3.56
1.28
1.66
86.65
2.05
1.06
NDF = Dietary neutral detergent fiber, ADF = Dietary acid detergent fiber, ME = Dietary metabolizable energy, CP
= Dietary crude protein, EE = Dietary ether extract, DMI = Dry matter intake, BW = Body weight, DIM = Days in
milk, CH4 = Daily methane emission and Ym = Methane emission factor {100[CH4 (MJ/d) / GEI (MJ/d)]} where
GEI is animal daily the gross energy intake.
†
The lactating cows’ dataset comprises all lactating animals; the non-lactating cows’ dataset comprises all nonlactating female animals that are older than 24 months. The heifers’ and steers’ dataset comprise female nonlactating animals younger than 24 months and male animals, respectively. In the lactating and non-lactating cows’
datasets, a breed explanatory variable was created by the assignment of “0” or “1”, representing Holstein and Jersey
cows, respectively. In the heifers’ and steers’ datasets, the breed variable was coded as “0” if animals were Holsteins
and “1” if the animals were Angus, Hereford or Angus-Hereford.
Equation S1-S3. Prediction of dietary gross energy content.
Equation S1 is from Nehring K, Haenlein GFW (1973). Feed evaluation and ration calculation
based on net energy fat. Journal of Animal Science, 36, 949-964. Equations S2 and S3 were
estimated from the data in this manuscript using least squares regression for which standard
errors are given in parenthesis.
Eq. S1: GE = [5.72 x CP + 9.50 x CFAT + 4.79 x CF + 4.03 x NFE] x 4.184
where GE is the dietary gross energy (MJ/kg DM), CP is the dietary crude protein (kg/kg DM),
CFAT is the dietary crude fat (kg/kg DM) [assumed to be equal to the dietary ether extract for
GE model predictions], CF is the dietary crude fat (kg/kg DM) and NFE is the nitrogen free
extract (kg/kg DM).
Eq. S2: GE = 0.243 (0.002) x CP + 0.505 (0.008) x EE + 0.234 (0.001) x CF + 0.166 (0.0005) x NFE; residual
variance σ2 = 0.21
where GE is the dietary gross energy (MJ/kg DM), CP is the dietary percentage of crude protein
(% of DM), EE is the dietary percentage of ether extract (% of DM), CF is the dietary percentage
of crude fiber (% of DM) and NFE is the dietary percentage of nitrogen free extract (% of DM).
Eq. S3: GE = 0.263 (0.002) x CP + 0.522 (0.008) x EE + 0.198 (0.0008) x NDF + 0.160 (0.0006) x SR;
residual variance σ2 = 0.22
where GE is the dietary gross energy (MJ/kg DM), CP is the percentage of dietary crude protein
(% of DM), EE is the percentage of dietary ether extract (% of DM), NDF is the percentage of
dietary neutral detergent fiber (% of DM) and SR is the dietary percentage of soluble residues (%
of DM) calculated by subtracting crude protein and ether extract from the neutral-detergent
solubles, i.e. SR = OM – NDF – CP – EE where OM is the dietary percentage of organic matter.
Figure S1. Observed versus predicted gross energy intake1.
100
300
500
Predicted GEI (MJ/d)
1
100
300
500
Predicted GEI (MJ/d)
500
300
100
300
Observed GEI (MJ/d)
500
Equation S3
100
300
Observed GEI (MJ/d)
500
Equation S2
100
Observed GEI (MJ/d)
Equation S1
100
300
500
Predicted GEI (MJ/d)
Note: Observed gross energy intake is from the database in this manuscript, predicted gross
energy intake was calculated through the product of the predicted dietary gross energy content
(predicted from equations S1, S2 and S3) and the observed animal’s dry matter intake. The unity
line was added in all plots for the visual inspection of potential intercept and slope bias.