value of 0.08 Mcal/kg BW0.75 for predicting NELM. If the hypothesis by AAC (1990) is true, with the assumption that the average net energy values of milk and body weight change are unaffected by the quality of feeds as in case of NELM, the average net energy maintenance value of 0.123 Mcal/kg BW0.75 should be used in this study. This is approximately 54% higher than the NRC (2001) recommendation. Suksombat and Junpanichcharoen (2005) suggested that, in the tropics, the average net energy maintenance value of 0.106 Mcal/kg BW0.75 would be more appropriate than the value of 0.08 Mcal/kg BW0.75 recommended by NRC (2001). Similarly,the work of Suksombat and Mernkrathoke (2005), the calculated average net energy