Impacts of heifer post-weaning residual feed intake classification on reproductive and performance measurements of first, second and third parity Angus beef females

Abstract This study evaluated heifer post-weaning residual feed intake (RFI) classification on reproductive and performance measurements of first, second and third parity Angus beef females. We analyzed the annual, as well as, cumulative production of 347 Angus females from birth through weaning of their 3 rd calf. Heifer post-weaning RFI was calculated as the actual dry matter intake minus the predicted dry matter intake based on the average daily gain of the contemporary group on an annual basis. Heifers were categorized based on RFI as either low (< -0.50 SD from mean), average (± 0.50 SD from mean), or high (> +0.50 SD from the mean) within year. There was no RFI × Parity interaction (P ≥ 0.14) observed for all production/reproduction traits except for conception rates (P =0.02). Julian birth date of cows was influenced by RFI classification (P < 0.01) and displayed a quadratic (P = 0.02) effect with high RFI cows being born earlier in the calving season than average RFI cows (71.2 vs 75.3 days), but did not differ from low RFI cows (74.0 vs 75.3 days). Cow birth weight, weaning weight, as well as, all other cow weight and body condition measurements were not influenced by RFI classification (P ≥ 0.14). As expected, there was a linear increase in cow body weight at weaning with increasing parity (P < 0.01). Cow RFI classification had no influence on progeny weaning weight, birth date, calving interval, or postpartum interval (P ≥ 0.15). Calf birth weights displayed a quadratic parity effect (P < 0.01) with 1 st calf heifers having calves with lower birth weights than 2 nd and 3 rd parity calves. Calf 205 day adjusted weaning weights displayed a quadratic effect (P = 0.01) with 1 st calf heifers weaning lighter calves than 2 nd and 3 rd parity cows. Weaning weight ratio displayed a linear decrease with increasing parity (P < 0.01). Cow conception probability displayed a linear tendency for pregnancy 2 (P = 0.09), and a quadratic tendency for pregnancy 4 (P = 0.07) as a function of RFI classification, but no effects were observed for pregnancy 1 and 3. Cow artificial insemination (AI) conception rates differed by year of pregnancy (P < 0.01) but not RFI classification (P = 0.81). In summary, heifer post-weaning RFI classification had minimal effects on beef cattle production and reproductive efficiency.

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Influence of Residual Feed Intake and Cow Age on Dry Matter Intake Post-Weaning and Peak Lactation of Black Angus Cows

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani11061822 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (6) ◽

pp. 1822

Author(s):

Cory T. Parsons ◽

Julia M. Dafoe ◽

Samuel A. Wyffels ◽

Timothy DelCurto ◽

Darrin L. Boss

Keyword(s):

Milk Production ◽

Feed Intake ◽

Dry Matter ◽

Free Choice ◽

Residual Feed Intake ◽

Beef Cows ◽

Age Effect ◽

Dry Matter Intake ◽

Intake Rate ◽

Two Stages

We evaluated heifer post-weaning residual feed intake (RFI) classification and cow age on dry matter intake (DMI) at two stages of production. Fifty-nine non-lactating, pregnant, (Study 1) and fifty-four lactating, non-pregnant (Study 2) commercial black Angus beef cows were grouped by age and RFI. Free-choice, hay pellets were fed in a GrowSafe feeding system. In Study 1, cow DMI (kg/d) and intake rate (g/min) displayed a cow age effect (p < 0.01) with an increase in DMI and intake rate with increasing cow age. In Study 2, cow DMI (kg/d) and intake rate (g/min) displayed a cow age effect (p < 0.02) with an increase in DMI and intake rate with increasing cow age. Milk production displayed a cow age × RFI interaction (p < 0.01) where both 5–6-year-old and 8–9-year-old low RFI cows produced more milk than high RFI cows. For both studies, intake and intake behavior were not influenced by RFI (p ≥ 0.16) or cow age × RFI interaction (p ≥ 0.21). In summary, heifer’s post-weaning RFI had minimal effects on beef cattle DMI or intake behavior, however, some differences were observed in milk production.

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Daily methane emissions and emission intensity of grazing beef cattle genetically divergent for residual feed intake

Animal Production Science ◽

10.1071/an15111 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 57 (4) ◽

pp. 627 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

J. I. Velazco ◽

R. M. Herd ◽

D. J. Cottle ◽

R. S. Hegarty

Keyword(s):

Feed Intake ◽

Emission Intensity ◽

Dry Matter ◽

Average Daily Gain ◽

Residual Feed Intake ◽

Conversion Ratio ◽

Feed Conversion Ratio ◽

Breeding Value ◽

Dry Matter Intake ◽

Feed Conversion

As daily methane production (DMP; g CH4/day) is strongly correlated with dry matter intake (DMI), the breeding of cattle that require less feed to achieve a desired rate of average daily gain (ADG) by selection for a low residual feed intake (RFI) can be expected to reduce DMP and also emission intensity (EI; g CH4/kg ADG). An experiment was conducted to compare DMP and EI of Angus cattle genetically divergent for RFI and 400-day weight (400dWT). In a 6-week grazing study, 64 yearling-age cattle (30 steers, 34 heifers) were grazed on temperate pastures, with heifers and steers grazing separate paddocks. Liveweight (LW) was monitored weekly and DMP of individual cattle was measured by a GreenFeed emission monitoring unit in each paddock. Thirty-nine of the possible 64 animals had emission data recorded for 15 or more days, and only data for these animals were analysed. For these cattle, regression against their mid-parent estimated breeding value (EBV) for post-weaning RFI (RFI-EBV) showed that a lower RFI-EBV was associated with higher LW at the start of experiment. Predicted dry matter intake (pDMI), predicted DMP (pDMP) and measured DMP (mDMP) were all negatively correlated with RFI-EBV (P < 0.05), whereas ADG, EI, predicted CH4 yield (pMY; g CH4/kg DMI) were not correlated with RFI-EBV (P > 0.1). Daily CH4 production was positively correlated with animal LW and ADG (P < 0.05). The associations between ADG and its dependent traits EI and pMY and predicted feed conversion ratio (kg pDMI/kg ADG) were strongly negative (r = –0.82, –0.57 and –0.85, P < 0.001) implying that faster daily growth by cattle was accompanied by lower EI, MY and feed conversion ratio. These results show that cattle genetically divergent for RFI do not necessarily differ in ADG, EI or pMY on pasture and that, if heavier, cattle with lower RFI-EBV can actually have higher DMP while grazing moderate quality pastures.

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Comparative analyses of enteric methane emissions, dry matter intake and milk somatic cell count in different residual feed intake categories of dairy cows

Canadian Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.1139/cjas-2019-0085 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Dagnachew Hailemariam ◽

Ghader Manafiazar ◽

John A. Basarab ◽

Paul Stothard ◽

Filippo Miglior ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Dairy Cows ◽

Somatic Cell ◽

Cell Count ◽

Milk Yield ◽

Feed Intake ◽

Somatic Cell Count ◽

Dry Matter ◽

Residual Feed Intake ◽

Dry Matter Intake ◽

Milk Traits

This study compared the different residual feed intake (RFI) categories of lactating Holsteins with respect to methane emission, dry matter intake (kg), milk somatic cell count (SCC, 103/mL) and β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB, mmol/L). RFI was calculated in 131 lactating Holstein cows that were then categorized into –RFI (RFI<0) vs. +RFI (RFI>0) and low (RFI<-0.5 SD) vs. high RFI (RFI>0.5 SD) groups. Milk traits were recorded in 131 cows while CH4 and CO2 were measured in 83. Comparisons of –RFI vs. +RFI and low vs. high RFI showed 7.8% (22.3±0.40 vs. 24.2±0.39) and 12.9% (21.1±0.40 vs. 24.2±0.45) decrease (P<0.05) in DMI of –RFI and low RFI groups, respectively. Similarly, –RFI and low RFI cows had lower (P<0.05) CH4 (g/d) by 9.7% (343.5±11.1 vs. 380.4±10.9) and 15.5% (332.5±12.9 vs. 393.5±12.6) respectively. Milk yield was not different (P>0.05) in –RFI vs. +RFI and low vs. high comparisons. The –RFI and low RFI cows had lower (P<0.05) SCC in –RFI vs. +RFI and low RFI vs. high RFI comparisons. BHB was lower (P<0.05) in low RFI compared to the high RFI group. Low RFI dairy cows consumed less feed, emitted less methane (g/d), and had lower milk SCC and BHB without differing in milk yield.

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Correlation of Particular Bacterial PCR-Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis Patterns with Bovine Ruminal Fermentation Parameters and Feed Efficiency Traits

Applied and Environmental Microbiology ◽

10.1128/aem.01052-10 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 76 (19) ◽

pp. 6338-6350 ◽

Cited By ~ 61

Author(s):

Emma Hernandez-Sanabria ◽

Le Luo Guan ◽

Laksiri A. Goonewardene ◽

Meiju Li ◽

Denis F. Mujibi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Feed Intake ◽

Feed Efficiency ◽

Gel Electrophoresis ◽

Dry Matter ◽

Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis ◽

Residual Feed Intake ◽

Low Energy ◽

Dry Matter Intake ◽

Gradient Gel Electrophoresis ◽

Low Energy Diet

ABSTRACT The influence of rumen microbial structure and functions on host physiology remains poorly understood. This study aimed to investigate the interaction between the ruminal microflora and the host by correlating bacterial diversity with fermentation measurements and feed efficiency traits, including dry matter intake, feed conversion ratio, average daily gain, and residual feed intake, using culture-independent methods. Universal bacterial partial 16S rRNA gene products were amplified from ruminal fluid collected from 58 steers raised under a low-energy diet and were subjected to PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) analysis. Multivariate statistical analysis was used to relate specific PCR-DGGE bands to various feed efficiency traits and metabolites. Analysis of volatile fatty acid profiles showed that butyrate was positively correlated with daily dry matter intake (P < 0.05) and tended to have higher concentration in inefficient animals (P = 0.10), while isovalerate was associated with residual feed intake (P < 0.05). Our results suggest that particular bacteria and their metabolism in the rumen may contribute to differences in host feed efficiency under a low-energy diet. This is the first study correlating PCR-DGGE bands representing specific bacteria to metabolites in the bovine rumen and to host feed efficiency traits.

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Prediction and validation of residual feed intake and dry matter intake in Danish lactating dairy cows using mid-infrared spectroscopy of milk

Journal of Dairy Science ◽

10.3168/jds.2016-11609 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 100 (1) ◽

pp. 253-264 ◽

Cited By ~ 21

Author(s):

N. Shetty ◽

P. Løvendahl ◽

M.S. Lund ◽

A.J. Buitenhuis

Keyword(s):

Infrared Spectroscopy ◽

Dairy Cows ◽

Feed Intake ◽

Dry Matter ◽

Residual Feed Intake ◽

Dry Matter Intake ◽

Mid Infrared ◽

Mid Infrared Spectroscopy ◽

Lactating Dairy Cows

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Performance, carcass traits, and non-carcass components of feedlot finished lambs from different residual feed intake classes

Semina Ciências Agrárias ◽

10.5433/1679-0359.2018v39n6p2645 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 39 (6) ◽

pp. 2645 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Raizza Fátima Abadia Tulux Rocha ◽

Andréa Roberto Duarte Lopes Souza ◽

Maria Da Graça Morais ◽

Mayara Mitiko Yoshihara Carneiro ◽

Henrique Jorge Fernandes ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Body Weight ◽

Feed Intake ◽

Dry Matter ◽

Average Daily Gain ◽

Carcass Traits ◽

Residual Feed Intake ◽

Dry Matter Intake ◽

Mineral Mixture ◽

The Mean ◽

Daily Gain

This study aimed to assess the performance, carcass traits, and non-carcass components of feedlot finished Texel crossbred lambs from different residual feed intake classes (RFI). Forty-seven uncastrated male Texel crossbred lambs (¾ Texel + ¼ Pantaneira) tested here were 4-month-old with an initial weight of 29.9 ± 5.5 kg. The lambs were confined for 70 days for individual dry matter intake (DMI) and average daily gain (ADG) assessment. The diet containing corn silage was provided as roughage, while the concentrate consisted of corn grain, soybean meal, urea, and mineral mixture with a 40:60 roughage to concentrate ratio and 76.34% total digestible nutrients (TDN). After confinement for 70 days, the lambs were slaughtered to assess carcass traits and non-carcass components. Based on the RFI, lambs were divided into three classes according to the standard deviation (sd): Positive RFI (inefficient, 0.5 above the mean), Negative RFI (efficient, 0.5 below the mean), and Medium RFI (intermediate). Classes with Negative (efficient) and Positive RFI (inefficient) showed no differences in ADG (0.321 vs 0.306 kg; P > 0.05). Dry matter intake (g d-1), and percentage of body weight (BW) differed significantly between the RFI classes (P < 0.05). Compared to lambs in the inefficient class, those in the efficient class (Negative RFI) showed a 9% reduction in DMI and had the same ADG. The lambs in either Positive or Negative RFI classes showed no weight differences between non-carcass components (P > 0.05). The RFI classes showed no differences in shrunk body weight, hot carcass weight, hot dressing, and weight of commercial cuts (P > 0.05). They showed no differences in neck, shoulder + shank, loin, rack, flank steak, rack cap off, and leg weights (P > 0.05). Our results indicate that improvement in feed efficiency, as a function of the RFI index, does not compromise performance and carcass traits of Texel crossbred lambs.

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Test post-weaning duration for performance, feed intake and feed efficiency in Nellore cattle

Revista Brasileira de Zootecnia ◽

10.1590/s1516-35982011000200010 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 40 (2) ◽

pp. 301-307 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

André Michel de Castilhos ◽

Renata Helena Branco ◽

Alexander George Razook ◽

Sarah Figueiredo Martins Bonilha ◽

Maria Eugênia Zerlotti Mercadante ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Feed Intake ◽

Feed Efficiency ◽

Dry Matter ◽

Performance Test ◽

Average Daily Gain ◽

Dry Matter Intake ◽

Test Duration ◽

Nellore Cattle ◽

And Performance ◽

Daily Gain

This study was conducted to determine optimum test duration for measuring performance, feed intake and feed efficiency. Sixty young Nellore bulls were submitted to feeding performance test and fed in individual pens to determine feed intake and performance over 112 days. Body weight was determined every 28 days, after fasting of water and feed for 16 hours. Changes in variance, relative variance and Pearson and Spearman correlations among data from shortened test periods (28, 56 and 84 days) and full test period (112 days) were used to determine optimum test duration. Test duration for average daily gain, dry matter intake, feed:gain ratio and residual feed intake could be shortened to 84, 28, 84 and 84 days, respectively, without reducing significantly the reliability of measurements for animals fed in individual pens.

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