The pattern of utilisation of body fat reserves in working cattle and buffalo

[Extract] Draught animals may enter the working season in body conditions ranging from 'poor' to 'good'. To determine the minimal requirements for the type and amount of nutrients which are required for acceptable levels of productivity, it is necessary first to determine the priority that these classes of animals place on the untilisation of different nutrients during work. It was apparent from previous work (Kartiarso et al 1987a) that free fatty acids (FFA) are important sources of energy in working cattle and buffaloes. This communication reports on some of the results which were preseneted at the Australian Nutrition Society Conference in November 1988 (Kartiarso and Teleni 1988)