INTRODUCTION
Determination of the concentration of NE in diets
and feed ingredients is assumed to provide the most
accurate estimate of the amount of energy that is truly
available to the pig (Noblet, 2007). The NE of a diet
for growing pigs is generally estimated as the sum of
the amount of energy required for basic body functions
(i.e., NEm) and the energy retained in the body (Noblet
and Henry, 1993; Baldwin, 1995). Therefore, estimates