Developing a continuous adjustment factor for dry matter intake of gestating and lactating ewes

Intake is a multifactorial process that influenced by animal type, environmental factors, and diet characteristics. Sheep, especially, have specific eating habits, with greater selection of ingested feed compared to cattle. Thus, predictive equations for dry matter intake (DMI) must constantly be reviewed. The objective this study was combine different adjustment factors develop one continuous factor predicting the DMI pregnant, dry, lactating ewes. evaluated non-lactation ewes accounts metabolic body weight gain, equation includes milk production its fat content. database used in pooled from hair sheep ewes, two four years old, controlled feeding, during pregnancy physiological phases. For overall predictions (gestating ewes), adjusted prediction had accuracy but lower precision than unadjusted prediction. However, adjusting increased adequacy as mean square error difference (ΔMSEP) decreased (p = 0.0328). Similarly, gestating predicted ΔMSEP < 0.001). no detected between based on statistics 0.3672), assumption peak 28 days (default) worsened predictability it accuracy. Adjustments are necessary increase precision.