Genetic parameters for feed intake and feed efficiency in growing dairy heifers

1991 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 49-59 ◽  
Author(s):  
S Korver ◽  
E.A.M van Eekelen ◽  
H Vos ◽  
G.J Nieuwhof ◽  
J.A.M van Arendonk
Keyword(s):  
Feed Intake ◽  
Feed Efficiency ◽  
Genetic Parameters ◽  
Dairy Heifers

scholarly journals PSVIII-38 Late-Breaking Abstract: Estimating genetic parameters of feed efficiency traits in American mink

2020 ◽  
Vol 98 (Supplement_4) ◽  
pp. 347-347
Author(s):  
Pourya Davoudi ◽  
Duy Ngoc Do ◽  
Guoyu Hu ◽  
Siavash Salek Ardestani ◽  
Younes Miar
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Genetic Correlation ◽  
Feed Intake ◽  
Feed Efficiency ◽  
Fixed Effects ◽  
Genetic Parameters ◽  
American Mink ◽  
Genetic Correlations ◽  
Final Body Weight ◽  
Selection For

Abstract Feed cost is the major input cost in the mink industry and thus improvement of feed efficiency through selection for high feed efficient mink is necessary for the mink farmers. The objective of this study was to estimate the heritability, phenotypic and genetic correlations for different feed efficiency measures, including final body weight (FBW), daily feed intake (DFI), average daily gain (ADG), feed conversion ratio (FCR) and residual feed intake (RFI). For this purpose, 1,088 American mink from the Canadian Center for Fur Animal Research at Dalhousie Faculty of Agriculture were recorded for daily feed intake and body weight from August 1 to November 14 in 2018 and 2019. The univariate models were used to test the significance of sex, birth year and color as fixed effects, and dam as a random effect. Genetic parameters were estimated via bivariate models using ASReml-R version 4. Estimates of heritabilities (±SE) were 0.41±0.10, 0.37±0.11, 0.33±0.14, 0.24±0.09 and 0.22±0.09 for FBW, DFI, ADG, FCR and RFI, respectively. The genetic correlation (±SE) was moderate to high between FCR and RFI (0.68±0.15) and between FCR and ADG (-0.86±0.06). In addition, RFI had low non-significant (P > 0.05) genetic correlations with ADG (0.04 ± 0.26) and BW (0.16 ± 0.24) but significant (P < 0.05) high genetic correlation with DFI (0.74 ± 0.11) indicating that selection for lower RFI will reduce feed intake without adverse effects on the animal size and growth rate. The results suggested that RFI can be implemented in genetic/genomic selection programs to reduce feed intake in the mink production system.

Genetic parameters for feed intake and efficiency in lactating beef cows

1996 ◽  
Vol 76 (1) ◽  
pp. 81-87 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Q. Fan ◽  
J. W. Wilton ◽  
P. E. Colucci
Keyword(s):  
Milk Yield ◽  
Feed Intake ◽  
Feed Efficiency ◽  
Genetic Parameters ◽  
Genetic Correlations ◽  
National Research Council ◽  
Beef Cows ◽  
Feed Consumption ◽  
Research Centre ◽  
Total Data

Genetic parameters of feed intake and efficiency and production traits for lactating beef cows were estimated from data collected from 1980 to 1988 at the Elora Beef Research Centre, Guelph, Ontario. Estimates were obtained using restricted maximum likelihood (REML) with an individual animal model with year–season–treatment, sex of calf, parity, breeding system, covariate daily change of backfat depth and direct genetic and permanent environmental effects. The data included 1174 observations, 511 cows, 369 dam–maternal grand dam pairs and 245 sires of cows. Feed efficiency for milk was calculated as milk yield relative to energy consumed for milk and maintenance and residual feed consumption as estimated energy intake minus energy requirements as estimated by the National Research Council. Heritabilities for Herefords alone and total data, respectively, were estimated to be 0.02 and 0.11 for cow's daily ME intake (MEI), 0.26 and 0.26 for daily milk yield (DMY), 0.45 and 0.33 for milk fat percentage (MFP), 0.29 and 0.40 for metabolic body weight (MBW), 0.21 and 0.10 for calf weaning weight as a proportion of cow weight at weaning (PPW), 0.18 and 0.11 for feed efficiency for milk (FE), and 0.23 and 0.03 for residual feed consumption (RFC). Genetic correlations of output (DMY) and input (MEI) were 0.31 for Hereford and 0.75 for the total data. Genetic correlations of RFC with both output (DMY) and input (MEI) were low. Genetically, PPW was positively associated with FE and DMY and negatively associated with MBW. Key words: Genetic parameters, feed efficiency, lactation, beef cow

scholarly journals Simultaneous Bayesian estimation of genetic parameters for curves of weight, feed intake and residual feed intake in beef cattle

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hadi Esfandyari ◽  
Just Jensen
Keyword(s):  
Feed Intake ◽  
Feed Efficiency ◽  
Genetic Parameters ◽  
Residual Feed Intake ◽  
Test Period ◽  
Random Regression ◽  
Farm Animals ◽  
Joint Analysis ◽  
Breeding Values ◽  
Covariance Functions

Abstract Rate of gain and feed efficiency are important traits in most breeding programs for growing farm animals. Rate of gain (GAIN) is usually expressed over a certain age period and feed efficiency is often expressed as residual feed intake (RFI), defined as observed feed intake (FI) minus expected feed intake based on live weight (WGT) and GAIN. However, the basic traits recorded are always WGT and FI and other traits are derived from these basic records. The aim of this study was to develop a procedure for simultaneous analysis of the basic records and then derive linear traits related to feed efficiency without retorting to any approximations. A bivariate longitudinal random regression model was employed on 13,791 individual longitudinal records of WGT and FI from 2,827 bulls of six different beef breeds tested for own performance in the period from 7 to 13 months of age. Genetic and permanent environmental covariance functions for curves of WGT and FI were estimated using Gibbs sampling. Genetic and permanent covariance functions for curves of GAIN were estimated from the first derivative of the function for WGT and finally the covariance functions were extended to curves for RFI, based on the conditional distribution of FI given WGT and GAIN. Furthermore, the covariance functions were extended to include GAIN and RFI defined over different periods of the performance test. These periods included the whole test period as normally used when predicting breeding values for GAIN and RFI for beef bulls. Based on the presented method, breeding values and genetic parameters for derived traits such as GAIN and RFI defined longitudinally or integrated over (parts of) of the test period can be obtained from a joint analysis of the basic records. The resulting covariance functions for WGT, FI, GAIN and RFI are usually singular but the method presented here do not suffer from the estimation problems associated with defining these traits individually before the genetic analysis. All results are thus estimated simultaneously, and the set of parameters are consistent.

48 Genomic Studies of Feed Efficiency and Component Traits in American Mink

2021 ◽  
Vol 99 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. 24-25
Author(s):  
Pourya Davoudi ◽  
Duy Ngoc Do ◽  
Guoyu Hu ◽  
Siavash Salek Ardestani ◽  
Younes Miar
Keyword(s):  
Genomic Selection ◽  
Feed Intake ◽  
Feed Efficiency ◽  
Fixed Effects ◽  
Genetic Parameters ◽  
Genetic Relationships ◽  
American Mink ◽  
Final Body Weight ◽  
Component Traits ◽  
Selection For

Abstract Feed costs are the largest expense in mink production systems. Therefore, improvement of feed efficiency (FE) is the best way to use limited resources efficiently and increase the mink industry’s sustainability. The objectives of this project are to 1) identify the genetic relationships among different FE measures and their component traits, and 2) discover the genetic architecture of FE and implement genomic selection for FE traits to increase the genetic gain in American mink. Final body weight (FBW), final body length (FBL), daily feed intake (DFI), average daily gain (ADG), feed conversion ratio (FCR), residual feed intake (RFI), residual gain (RG), residual intake and gain (RIG) and Kleiber ratio (KR) traits were measured based on the phenotypic records on 1,088 American mink from the Canadian Center for Fur Animal Research (Nova Scotia, Canada). Univariate models were applied to test the significance of sex, color type, age, and nested Row(Year) as fixed effects and random maternal effect. Genetic parameters were estimated via bivariate models using ASReml-R 4. Estimated heritabilities (±SE) were 0.38±0.10, 0.36±0.10, 0.25±0.10, 0.34±0.09, 0.38±0.08, 0.37±0.07, 0.29±0.10, 0.32±0.10 and 0.34±0.10 for FBW, FBL, DFI, ADG, FCR, RFI, RG, RIG and KR, respectively. RFI showed non-significant (P >0.05) genetic correlations with component traits such as FBW (0.00±0.17) and FBL (0.30±0.16) but significant (P < 0.05) high genetic correlation with DFI (0.74±0.09), indicating that selection based on RFI will reduce the feed intake without any negative effects on the size and growth. The estimated genetic parameters for FE traits suggested the possibility to implement genetic/genomic selection to improve the FE in American mink. Consequently, the ongoing project on genetic mapping and genomic selection will enhance the knowledge of FE and improve the efficacy of selection for more feed-efficient mink.

scholarly journals How Divergence for Feed Efficiency Traits Affects Body Measurements and Metabolites in Blood and Ruminal Parameters on Pre-Weaning Dairy Heifers

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 3436
Author(s):  
Juliana Mergh Leão ◽  
Sandra Gesteira Coelho ◽  
Camila Flávia de Assis Lage ◽  
Rafael Alves de Azevedo ◽  
Juliana Aparecida Mello Lima ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Feed Intake ◽  
Feed Efficiency ◽  
Volatile Fatty Acids ◽  
High Efficiency ◽  
Body Weight Gain ◽  
Residual Body ◽  
Body Measurements ◽  
Physiological Basis ◽  
Dairy Heifers ◽  
Low Efficiency

The objectives of this study were: (1) to evaluate feed efficiency indexes and their relationships with body measurements and blood and ruminal metabolites in the pre-weaning period; (2) to determine if such measurements can be used as feed-efficiency markers during the pre-weaning period. Holstein–Gyr heifer calves (n = 36), enrolled between 4 and 12 weeks of age, were classified into two residual feed intake (RFI) and residual body weight gain (RG) groups: high efficiency (HE; RFI, n = 10; and RG, n = 9), and low efficiency (LE; RFI, n = 10; and RG, n = 8). Calves were fed whole milk (6 L/day) and solid feed ad libitum. Body developments were measured weekly and feed intake (milk and solid feed) daily during the whole period. Blood samples were collected at 12 weeks of age and analyzed for glucose, insulin and β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB). Samples of ruminal content were collected on the same day and analyzed for pH, NH3-N, and volatile fatty acids (VFA). Among the growth characteristics, only the initial hip width differed between the RFI groups, and withers height differed between the RG groups. Concentration of BHB was greater and glucose: insulin ratios tended to be greater in LE-RG animals. Butyric acid proportions were similar among RFI groups, but tended to be greater for HE-RG than for LE-RG. Overall, correlation coefficients between RFI or RG and blood, rumen, or morphometric markers were low. Thus, it is unlikely that measurements of metabolic indicators, per se, will be useful in the early identification of more efficient animals. Understanding the underlying physiological basis for improved feed efficiency in dairy heifers requires further investigation.

scholarly journals Genetic Parameters for Different Measures of Feed Efficiency and Their Relationship to Production Traits in Three Purebred Pigs

Life ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 830
Author(s):  
Kier Gumangan Santiago ◽  
Bryan Irvine Lopez ◽  
Sung-Hoon Kim ◽  
Dong-Hui Lee ◽  
Young-Gyu Cho ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Correlation ◽  
Feed Intake ◽  
Feed Efficiency ◽  
Genetic Parameters ◽  
Daily Weight Gain ◽  
Phenotypic Variance ◽  
Production Traits ◽  
Feed Conversion ◽  
Muscle Area ◽  
Initial Testing

Residual feed intake (RFI) gained attention as a potential alternative to the feed conversion ratio (FCR). Thus, this study aimed to estimate genetic parameters for different feed efficiency (FE) traits (FCR, RFI1 to RFI5) and their genetic correlation to on-test daily weight gain (ADG), backfat (BFT), loin muscle area (LMA), lean percentage (LP), and total feed intake (FI) for 603 Male Duroc (DD), 295 Landrace (LL), and 341 Yorkshire (YY). The common spatial pen effect was also estimated in these traits. Five RFI measures were estimated by regressing daily feed intake on initial testing age (ITA), initial testing weight (IBW), and ADG for RFI1; other models were the same as RFI1 except for additional BFT for RFI2; LMA for RFI3; BFT and LMA for RFI4; BFT, LMA, and average metabolic body weight (AMBW) instead of IBW for RFI5. Genetic parameters estimated using two animal models and the REML method showed moderate heritability for FCR in all breeds (0.22 and 0.28 for DD, 0.31 and 0.39 for LL, 0.17 and 0.22 for YY), low heritability for the majority of RFI measures in DD (0.15 to 0.23) and YY (0.14 to 0.20) and moderate heritability for all RFI measures in LL (0.31 to 0.34). Pen variance explained 7% to 22% for FE and 0% to 9% for production traits’ phenotypic variance. The genetic correlation revealed that selection against less complex RFI1 in DD and LL and RFI2 in YY would bring the most advantageous reduction to FI (0.71 for DD, 0.49 for LL, 0.43 YY) without affecting ADG in all breeds (0.06 for DD, −0.11 for LL, 0.05 for YY), decrease in BFT, and increase in LP in DD (0.51 in BFT, −0.77 in LP) and LL (0.45 in BFT, −0.83 in LP). Therefore, inclusion of these breed-specific RFI measures in the future selection criteria would help improve feed efficiency in the swine industry.

scholarly journals Genetic parameters for feed intake and efficiency in dry pregnant beef cows

1996 ◽  
Vol 76 (1) ◽  
pp. 73-79 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Q. Fan ◽  
J. W. Wilton ◽  
P. E. Colucci
Keyword(s):  
Energy Intake ◽  
Feed Intake ◽  
Feed Efficiency ◽  
Genetic Parameters ◽  
Genetic Parameter ◽  
Average Daily Gain ◽  
Beef Cows ◽  
Feed Consumption ◽  
Research Centre ◽  
Total Data

Genetic parameters of feed efficiency and traits relative to feed efficiency for dry pregnant beef cows were estimated from data collected from 1980 to 1988 at the Elora Beef Research Centre, Guelph, Ontario. Measurements of individual feed intake were available for 90 d immediately before calving. Estimates of parameters were obtained using derivative-free restricted maximum likelihood (DFREML), with an individual-animal model with year-season, sex of fetus, parity breeding system, covariate daily backfat change, and genetic and permanent environmental effects. The data included 729 observations, 337 cows, 278 dam–maternal grand dam pairs, and 208 sires of cows. Feed efficiency for pre-calving gain of fetus was calculated as pre-calving gain relative to energy consumed for maintenance and pregnancy, with adjustment of intake for weight change by National Research Council (NRC) standards (FE) or by regression analysis (FER). Residual feed consumption was calculated as energy intake minus energy requirements, with requirements estimated by NRC standards (RFC) or by regression (RFCR). Heritabilities for Hereford alone and total data, respectively, were 0.03 and 0.16 for daily metabolizable energy intake (MEI); 0.20 and 0.44 for metabolic body weight (MBW); 0.28 and 0.22 for fetal pre-calving average daily gain (PADG); 0.11 and 0.05 for FE; 0.28 and 0.20 for FER; 0.01 and 0.04 for RFC; and 0.03 and 0.22 for RFCR. Genetic and phenotypic correlations indicated a positive association of energy intake with pre-calving fetal gain and weight of cow, although correlations with weight of cow were low. Residual feed consumption for the total data was not genetically associated with MEI or PADG, moderately associated with MBW, and highly negatively associated with FE. Key words: Genetic parameter, feed efficiency, pregnancy, beef

scholarly journals Estimation of Genetic Parameters for Feeding Pattern Traits and Its Relationship to Feed Efficiency and Production Traits in Duroc Pigs

Agriculture ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 850
Author(s):  
Kier G. Santiago ◽  
Sung-Hoon Kim ◽  
Bryan Irvine Lopez ◽  
Dong-Hui Lee ◽  
Young-Gyu Cho ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Correlation ◽  
Feed Intake ◽  
Feed Efficiency ◽  
Genetic Parameters ◽  
Feeding Rate ◽  
Occupation Time ◽  
Feeding Pattern ◽  
Phenotypic Correlation ◽  
Production Traits ◽  
Average Occupation

This study was conducted to estimate the genetic parameters of different feeding pattern traits, including average daily feed intake (ADFI), average occupation time per day (AOTD), average occupation time per visit (AOTV), average daily feeding rate (ADFR), average feeding rate per feeding visit (AFRV), average feed intake per feeding visit (AFIV), and average number of visits per day (ANVD), and their genetic relationship to production traits, such as on-test average daily gain (ADG), backfat thickness (BFT), loin muscle area (LMA), lean percentage (LP), and feed efficiency traits, such as feed conversion ratio (FCR) and five measures of residual feed intake (RFI1 to RFI5), in Duroc pigs (DD). The non-heritable common spatial pen effect was also estimated in all studied traits. The feeding pattern traits used in this study were derived from filtered feeding visits of 602 DD pigs. Using three animal models and the REML method, the genetic parameters revealed low to moderate heritability for ADFI (0.19 to 0.32) and AFIV (0.18 to 0.33), moderate heritability for ANVD (0.28 to 0.35) and AOTV (0.21 to 0.31), and high heritability for AOTD (0.73), ADFR (0.62 to 0.64), and AFRV (0.59 to 0.63). The addition of a common spatial pen effect in models 2 and 3 had a substantial impact, ranging from 8% to 23%, on the total variability of most feeding pattern traits, with the exception of AOTD, which only had a percentage variance of 0.30% due to the pen effect. The genetic and phenotypic correlation revealed that ADFI had consistent moderate to high genetic and phenotypic correlation with production and feed efficiency (FE) traits. However, selection against ADFI would negatively affect on-test ADG. Interestingly, the AOTD had no genetic correlation with ADG (0.04), low to moderate positive genetic correlation with FCR (0.27) and all RFI measures (0.24 to 0.33), and moderate negative correlation with LP (−0.39), indicating that selection for DD pigs with lower AOTD would not influence on-test ADG but may increase LP and improve feed efficiency by lowering FCR and all RFI measures. However, the corresponding phenotypic correlation of AOTD with production and feed efficiency traits was mostly weak, which can be attributed to the low residual or environmental correlation between these correlated traits. At the genetic level, the feeding pattern traits showed potential in improving feed efficiency and production traits. However, further studies are needed to evaluate their impact at phenotypic level.

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