A meta-analysis of feeding trials was conducted to determine the metabolizable energy requirements for the maintenance (ME_m) and efficiency of metabolizable energy intake (MEI) for the milk production (k_L) of Bos taurus and Bos taurus × Bos indicus crossbreds dairy cows in the tropics. The database contained 236 means treatments from 60 feeding trial studies. The data set was classified by genotype: Bos taurus (37 studies; n = 150 treatments means; MEI = 45.9 ± 6.6 Mcal/d; BW = 570 ± 45 kg; BW variation = 0.30 ± 0.37 kg/d; BCS = 2.7 ± 0.2; milk production = 22.3 ± 5.0 kg/d; milk fat = 3.64 ± 0.37%; milk protein = 3.23 ± 0.25%; milk lactose = 4.43 ± 0.21%; and milk energy = 0.70 ± 0.04 Mcal/kg) and Bos taurus × Bos indicus crossbred (23 studies; n = 86 treatments means; MEI = 31.6 ± 7.2.6 Mcal/d; BW = 487 ± 48 kg; BW variation = 0.07 ± 0.52 kg/d; BCS = 3.2 ± 0.5; milk production = 13.7 ± 2.0 kg/d; milk fat = 3.63 ± 0.55%; milk protein = 3.11 ± 0.28%; milk lactose = 4.49 ± 0.20%; and milk energy = 0.70 ± 0.06 Mcal/kg). A linear regression of MEI (Mcal/kg BW^0.75/d) with the milk energy output adjusted to a zero energy balance (E_L(0), Mcal/kg BW^0.75/d) was fitted using a mixed model with the study as the random effect and the genotype as the fixed effect. The ME_m was calculated as the intercept and k_L as the reciprocal of the slope of the regression. The dairy cow genotype affected the ME_m (P = 0.013) and k_L (P = 0.033). Bos taurus MEI (Mcal/kg BW^0.75/d) = 0.180 (±0.022, P < 0.001) + 1.546 (±0.153, P < 0.001) × E_L(0), R² = 0.675, MSPE = 0.0007; and Bos taurus × Bos indicus MEI (Mcal/kg BW^0.75/d) = 0.147 (±0.024, P < 0.001) + 1.771 (±0.288, P < 0.001) × E_L(0),R² = 0.859, MSPE = 0.0004. Bos taurus × Bos indicus crossbred dairy cows have (P < 0.05) an ME_m requirement that is 18% lower (0.147 ± 0.024 vs. 0.180 ± 0.022 Mcal/kg BW^0.75/d), but a k_L that is 12% lower (0.57 ± 0.09 vs. 0.65 ± 0.06) than that of Bos taurus cows. These results support the hypothesis that Bos taurus × Bos indicus crossbred dairy cows have a lower ME_m requirement but lower energetic efficiency for milk production than do Bos taurus dairy cows under tropical conditions.