Metabolisable Energy is defined as the food energy that is actually absorbed and used by the animal to carry out all of its bodily functions. To calculate the estimatedMetabolisable Energy , the specific digestibility coefficients, which are different for carbohydrates, fats and proteins, are taken into consideration.
These coefficients are called ATWATER factors.
 Another factor to consider while establishing the amount of food to give your pet is its Energy Density, which represents the amount of calories (Kcal) for a determined weight (usually 100 g.) of food. The Energy Density determines the amount of food eaten every day and directly affects the amounts of all the other essential nutrients. The Energy Density must be high enough to allow the animal to eat a sufficient quantity to meet its energy needs. If theEnergy Density is too low, the amount of food that is eaten is limited by the physical capacity of the gastrointestinal tract and the animal may suffer from an energy deficit.
|