Implementation of EL factor models to estimate nutritional requirements and development of equations to estimate the energy value of diets in modeling spreadsheets

• Grant number: 24/04197-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: May 01, 2024
• Status: Discontinued
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Animal Husbandry - Animal Nutrition and Feeding
• Principal Investigator: Nilva Kazue Sakomura
• Grantee: Rony Riveros Lizana
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias (FCAV). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Jaboticabal. Jaboticabal , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 19/26575-6 - Net energy system for poultry, AP.TEM
• Associated scholarship(s): 24/14483-8 - Development of a Modeling Spreadsheet to Integrate Energy Requirements and Feed Value in Net Energy System for Poultry., BE.EP.PD

Abstract

The computational models of Broiler Growth Model (BGM) and Egg Production Model (EPM) were developed during the execution of Thematic Project 2013/25761-4 to estimate nutritional requirements based on genetic potential and determine feed intake considering factors related to the environment and diet, enabling feed formulation. Building upon this precedent, the development of a spreadsheet-based tool for modeling the net energy requirements of poultry of different categories is proposed, along with models predicting the energy value of feedstuffs used in practical diet formulation. The project aims to integrate both components of an energy system, animal requirements, and the energy value of feeds, through the use of programming language to facilitate the development of a net energy system for poultry through a computationally practical tool. The proposed objective will be achieved by developing metadata that integrates the components of energy requirements and energy value of feeds for broiler chickens and laying hens. The first component is based on evaluating the energy metabolism of poultry from different categories (broiler chickens and laying hens) by determining heat production during fasting as well as energy partitioning in body tissues and egg formation. Energy utilization will also be assessed under different extrinsic factors affecting the animal, such as ambient temperature, physical form of the feed, and sanitary status conditions. Considering these multifactorial effects, models predicting net energy requirements for poultry will be developed. The second component involves developing equations to predict the net energy value of feeds for poultry. Both components will be integrated through the application of multifactorial statistical models, mixed models, and other statistical tools that will facilitate the development of user-friendly software for implementing the net energy system for poultry. The grantee will be responsible for developing the spreadsheets to be included in the software, as well as evaluation procedures and system challenge exercises submitted to simulations replicating practical conditions. The components of the initially proposed software consist of a diet formulation module based on the net energy system, a module for estimating energy requirements of poultry of different categories and ages, and an optimization module for formulation based on improving utilization efficiency and formulation flexibility by including alternative ingredients with benefits such as reducing feed costs and nitrogen excretion. These modules represent an initial proposal that will be tested and adjusted as the project progresses. With the implementation of this tool, it will be possible to implement the net energy system in practical poultry production, facilitating the prediction of poultry requirements under practical conditions and improving productivity efficiency with greater accuracy, thus providing significant advancement in the product to be made available to the community