Which energy term represents energy available after accounting for fecal losses?

• A. Gross energy
• B. Metabolizable energy
• C. Net energy
• D. Digestible energy

Answer: (D)

Energy values are defined by what losses have already been subtracted. The total energy in feed—the gross energy—is the starting point. After digestion, the energy that remains is the amount not lost in feces, which is called Digestible Energy. This is GE minus fecal energy, so it directly reflects energy available to the animal after accounting for fecal losses. Metabolizable energy goes a step further, subtracting urinary and gaseous energy from the digestible energy, and Net Energy goes further still, accounting for heat and other losses to reflect what’s actually available for maintenance and production. So, the term that denotes energy available after fecal losses is Digestible Energy.