The energy costs of walking on the level and on negative and positive slopes in the Granadina goat (Capra hircus)

Abstract

The energy expenditure of six goats averaging 35 (SE 0-3) kg was measured when the animals were standing or walking on a treadmill enclosed in a confinement-type respiration chamber at different speeds (0167, 0-333 and 0-500 m/s) and slopes ( -10, -5, 0, + 5 and +10 %). The energy costs of locomotion, estimated from the coefficients of linear regressions of heat production (HP) per kg body weight v. distance travelled were 1-91, 2-33,3-35,4-68 and 6-44 J/kg BW per m for -10, -5, 0, + 5 and +10 % inclines respectively, indicating that the energy expenditure of walking over standing changes with slope according to a slightly curvilinear relationship. The energy cost of raising 1 kg body weight one vertical metre was found to be 31-7 J, giving an average efficiency for upslope locomotion of 30-9 %. The energy recovered on vertical descent was estimated as 13-2 J/kg per m, indicating an efficiency of the energy recovered above the theoretical maximum. Goat: Locomotion: Energy costThe energy expenditure of locomotion contributes significantly to the energy requirement of animals in free-living conditions and must be included for accurate evaluation of the energy needs of the grazing animal. Past attempts to measure the energy expenditure of the animal at pasture have been reviewed by Whitelaw (1974) andBrockway (1978). In the main, data have been derived either from estimates of feed intake for constant live weight or by direct measurements on range. The usual and more reliable procedure for estimating free-living energy expenditure is the factorial method, whereby energy expenditure is calculated from calorimetric determination of the energy cost of various activities. Most of the increase in energy expenditure of physical activity results from grazing and locomotion costs, whereas the contribution of other activities is usually considered to be negligible. Although the energy cost of locomotion is relatively well defined in cattle (Ribeiro et al. 1977;Shibata et al. 1981;Lawrence & Stibbards, 1990), sheep (Clapperton, 1964;Farrell et al. 1972;Brockway & Boyne, 1980), equines (Yousef et al. 1972;Dijkman, 1992) and wild ungulates (Taylor et al. 1974;Brockway & Gessaman, 1977;Cohen et al. 1978;White & Yousef, 1978;Parker et al. 1984;Fancy & White, 1985;Dailey & Hobbs, 1989), no systematic studies, with the exception of the survey of Taylor et al. (1974), have been made with domestic goats. Published data suggest that there are interspecies differences in locomotory efficiency as a result of morphological, physiological and behavioural adaptations. Consequently, extrapolation of values derived from ruminant species other than the goat need further validation. While most of the studies have examined the energy cost of locomotion on the level, few studies have investigated the efficiencies associated with vertical ascent or descent. The present study was undertaken with the aim of determining the energy cost of *For reprints.

Adjusting homestead feeding to requirements and nutrient intake of grazing goats on semi-arid, subtropical highland pastures

“…During grazing, goats of Qasha' cover 11.3 km of horizontal and 2.6 km of vertical distances per day (Schlecht et al, 2009). At daily ME requirements of 422 kJ/kg 0.75 BW for maintenance (Lachica and Aguilera, 2005), 3.31 kJ/kg BW per meter of horizontal and 18.5 kJ/kg BW per meter of vertical movement (Lachica et al, 1997), daily ME requirements for maintenance and locomotion would amount to 637 kJ/kg 0.75 BW. The values of Lachica et al (1997) were determined in goats walking on a treadmill belt and requirements will likely be higher for locomotion on rough surface (Lawrence and Pearson, 1999).…”

“…At daily ME requirements of 422 kJ/kg 0.75 BW for maintenance (Lachica and Aguilera, 2005), 3.31 kJ/kg BW per meter of horizontal and 18.5 kJ/kg BW per meter of vertical movement (Lachica et al, 1997), daily ME requirements for maintenance and locomotion would amount to 637 kJ/kg 0.75 BW. The values of Lachica et al (1997) were determined in goats walking on a treadmill belt and requirements will likely be higher for locomotion on rough surface (Lawrence and Pearson, 1999). However, the calculated daily energy requirement for maintenance and locomotion is within the range of 600 to 742 kJ/kg 0.75 BW recommended by NRC (1981) for goats of 30 to 40 kg BW grazing arid, mountainous rangelands.…”

Ecological Flexibility of the Top Predator in an Island Ecosystem — The Iriomote Cat Changes Feeding Patterns in Relation to Prey Availability

“…Several studies have suggested that movement cost is highly correlated with topographic condition, particularly slope [e.g. [65][66][67]. Walking speed decreases as the slope on walking routes increase [65] and the energy requirements of humans [66] and goats [67] during walking are much higher on a slope than on a flat surface.…”

“…[65][66][67]. Walking speed decreases as the slope on walking routes increase [65] and the energy requirements of humans [66] and goats [67] during walking are much higher on a slope than on a flat surface. In the analysis results of movement tracks of the Iriomote cat, it was shown in all study sites that the animal Biodiversity in Ecosystems -Linking Structure and Function 18 preferred to move on areas with a lower slope and lower elevation.…”

Application of an open circuit indirect calorimetry system for gaseous exchange measurements in small ruminant nutrition

“…Blaxter and Boyne (1978) mention that the cost for eating in sheep is less in case of cereals that in case of forage. We were found only a few studies related to the cost of eating (Lachica et al, 1997) and Lachica et al (1999) related to the cost of locomotion in goats. Studies of the cost of eating and rumination of sheep given grass diets was investigated by Osuji et al (1975); the heat increment in sheep during feeding increased by 40%-80% during a course of a meal.…”