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Twenty four non-lactating goats (Age=3.5±0.08 years; Balady goats, n=12 and Shami goats, n=12) were used to evaluate the effects of long-term nutrient restriction on digestion and energy utilization. Six animals of each goat breed were fed a concentrated mixture and alfalfa hay diet (50:50 as DM basis) to meet metabolizable energy (ME) of maintenance (MEm, CON). The other six animals were fed 50% of this amount relative to actual BW (RES). Animals were individually housed for a 90-day period and then moved to metabolic cages in two sets of 12 animals each, three per treatment and breed for each set. Total Energy expenditure (EE) was estimated by a heart rate (HR) monitor for 48 h after its individual calibration by oxygen consumption with a face mask open-circuit respiratory system. Body weight and digestibility were negatively affected by long-term restricted feeding, without differences in digestibility between goat breeds. Energy expenditure was greater for CON vs. RES (417 vs. 355 kJ/kg BW0.75/day respectively, P