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.

Genetic parameters and breed differences for feed efficiency, growth, and body composition traits of young beef bulls

2004 ◽  
Vol 84 (2) ◽  
pp. 177-185 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. S. Schenkel ◽  
S. P. Miller ◽  
J. W. Wilton
Keyword(s):  
Body Composition ◽  
Genetic Correlation ◽  
Feed Intake ◽  
Feed Efficiency ◽  
Fixed Effects ◽  
Residual Feed Intake ◽  
Backfat Thickness ◽  
Daily Weight Gain ◽  
Feed Conversion ◽  
Beef Bulls

Genetic associations between feed efficiency, growth, and live ultrasound measured body composition traits were studied in purebred beef bulls of six breeds in Ontario bull test stations from 1991 to 2000. Feed traits included average daily feed intake (FI), feed conversion ratio (FCR), and residual feed intake [feed intake adjusted for production alone (RFIp) or production and backfat thickness (RFIb)]. Growth traits were average daily weight gain (ADG), mid-test metabolic weight (MW), hip height (HH), and scrotal circumference (SC). Body composition traits included ultrasound backfat thickness (BF), longissimus muscle area (LMA), and predicted percentage of intramuscular fat (IFAT). Bulls were measured every 28 d for weight and individual feed intake, and at the end of test for ultrasound body composition traits. Number of records per trait ranged from 2284 (FI) to 13 319 (ADG). Fixed effects of test group, breed and end of test age (within breed), and random effects of animal and herd of origin were modeled using REML bivariate analyses for all traits. Heritability estimates were moderate for all traits (0.30 to 0.55), except for IFAT (0.14). The genetic correlation between RFIp and RFIb was high (0.99) within breeds, but breeds ranked differently with respect to RFIp and RFIb. Genetic correlations of RFIb with ADG and backfat thickness were essentially zero, which indicate that selection on residual feed intake could be implemented to reduce feed intake and improve feed conversion without compromising growth or changing levels of subcutaneous fat. Key words: Central test, genetic correlation, heritability, residual feed intake

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.

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.

scholarly journals Response of growing rabbits to graded levels of fermented and unfermented pineapple peel

2021 ◽  
Vol 38 (1) ◽  
pp. 86-98
Author(s):  
O.A. Adeyemi ◽  
A.O. Ajado ◽  
A.O. Okubanjo ◽  
O.O. Eniolorunda
Keyword(s):  
Feed Intake ◽  
Feed Efficiency ◽  
Control Diet ◽  
Daily Weight Gain ◽  
Trial Period ◽  
Feed Conversion ◽  
Feed Cost ◽  
Pineapple Peel ◽  
Inclusion Level ◽  
Retail Cuts

Forty growing rabbits were allocated equally to five groups in a 2 x 3 factorial layout and caged individually for a 56-day trial period in hutches. They were used to compare the effects of two processing methods (unfermented and fermented) and three dietary replacement levels of Pineapple peel meal (PPM) at 0%, 12.5% and 25% of maize on weight for weight basis. Parameters evaluated during the trial period included: growth rate, feed intake, feed conversion ratio and feed cost. Results show that average daily weight gain (ADG) reduced (P<0.05) as dietary inclusion level of PPM increased, although rabbits fed PPM at 12.5% dietary inclusion level compared favourably (P>0.05) with those fed the control diet (0%). However, ADG of rabbits fed fermented PPM was statistically higher (P<0.05) than that recorded for rabbits fed unfermented PPM. No significant (P>0.05) difference was observed in daily feed intake of rabbits as a result of dietary inclusion level or processing type of PPM. Better (P<0.05) feed efficiency was recorded in rabbits fed PPM at 12.5% dietary inclusion level than those fed at 25%. Fermentation enhanced the nutritional value of feedstuff and also improved feed efficiency. Total feed cost reduced (P<0.05) by 21.39% when PPM was included in the diet at 25%. However, production result was not comparable with the control. But feeding fermented PPM at 12.5% inclusion level resulted in the best (P<0.05) economy of production. Processing type or dietary inclusion level of PPM had no significant (P>0.05) effect on dressing-out percentage of experimental animals. There were neither significant (P>0.05) effects of processing type nor dietary inclusion level on retail cuts of the rabbits fed the different experimental diets. In all feeding rabbits with diets containing fermented PPM up to 12.5% replacement level for maize optimum performance.

Hormonal growth implants affect feed efficiency and expression of residual feed intake-associated genes in beef cattle

2014 ◽  
Vol 54 (5) ◽  
pp. 550 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. Al-Husseini ◽  
C. Gondro ◽  
K. Quinn ◽  
L. M. Cafe ◽  
R. M. Herd ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Feed Intake ◽  
Feed Efficiency ◽  
Protein Turnover ◽  
Average Daily Gain ◽  
Residual Feed Intake ◽  
Gene Marker ◽  
Turnover Rates ◽  
Feed Conversion ◽  
Muscle Area ◽  
Eye Muscle

Hormonal growth promotants (HGP) have been used to improve feed conversion ratio (FCR) and growth rates of cattle by modifying protein turnover rates. Residual feed intake (RFI) is correlated with FCR and has been adopted in Australia as a measure of feed efficiency in cattle for the purpose of genetic improvement. Eight genes (AHSG, GHR, GSTM1, INHBA, PCDH19, S100A10, SERPINI2 and SOD3) have been previously reported to be highly associated with RFI and could potentially be used to predict RFI in bulls and steers. In this study, expression levels of these genes in liver tissue of 46 cattle were measured by quantitative real-time PCR. These cattle were part of a larger tenderness gene marker experiment consisting of two breeds (Angus and Brahman); two sexes (steers and heifers) and HGP treatments (implanted vs control). Cattle were measured for growth, feed efficiency, body composition and carcass traits. Results showed the expression of these eight genes was significantly correlated with RFI. However, HGP treatment did not affect RFI or the expression of the RFI-associated genes. HGP treatment increased average daily gain by 20%, improved FCR by 18%, and increased rib eye-muscle area by 7.5%. HGP treatment was effective in improving growth rate, presumably by its known action in the protein turnover mechanism. This mechanism has been hypothesised as one of the regulators of RFI. Lack of effect of HGP treatment on RFI does not support this hypothesis.

scholarly journals Evaluation of animal performance, feed intake, and economic losses in sheep experimentally infected with Trypanosoma vivax

2017 ◽  
Vol 38 (3) ◽  
pp. 1323 ◽  
Author(s):  
Parmênedes Dias de Brito ◽  
Telma De Sousa Lima ◽  
Andréia Freitas de Oliveira ◽  
Débora Andrea Evangelista Façanha ◽  
Carlos Iberê Alves Freitas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Weight Gain ◽  
Feed Intake ◽  
Feed Efficiency ◽  
Efficiency Index ◽  
Infected Group ◽  
Daily Weight Gain ◽  
Economic Losses ◽  
Animal Performance ◽  
Trypanosoma Vivax ◽  
Feed Conversion

Trypanosoma vivax is a protozoan originating from the African continent, which, although it has not yet been able to complete its biological cycle in South America, due to the absence of the tsetse fly, can still cause death in ruminants. The objective of this study was to verify the effects of T. vivax on the measurements and indices in sheep that characterize animal performance, as well as on economic losses in meat animals. Twenty intact adult male sheep were used for this study, all of approximately the same ages and weights, reared in confinement, and subjected to the same management and diet, which was balanced and supplemented with adequate minerals. The animals were divided into two groups: the control group (CG) and the infected group (IG), which was inoculated intravenously with 1.3 x 105 trypomastigotes of T. vivax. Feed intake was verified daily, whereas the feed conversion (FC), feed efficiency index (FEI), and weight gain were obtained weekly. Total weight gain (TWG) was determined after 70 days post-infection. The economic loss was calculated by subtracting the value obtained (IG) from the expected value (CG), and the difference was expressed as a percentage. A randomized block design was used to isolate the effect of the initial weight. The means were compared by the Student “t” test at 5%. Of the 10 infected animals, one died from the parasitism, yielding a rate much lower than that observed in natural outbreaks. The groups presented similar feed intakes throughout the experimental period; however, the TWG of the infected group was significantly lower (50.7%) than that of the CG. Similarly, the daily weight gain (DWG), feed conversion (FC), and feed efficiency index (FEI) of the IG were significantly lower than those of the CG. In addition, the worst rates of FC and FEI coincided with parasitemia peaks and recurrences, probably due to immunological demand and tissue repair. The abdominal circumference of the infected animals was statistically lower than that of the CG, which may be directly related to fat mobilization, in addition to the possible negative effect on the digestive capacity. The economic losses due to weight alone were 24.07% and could reach 31.66% of the herd value due to animal death. Infection with T. vivax negatively affected animal performance indices, even when the animals were well nourished. Trypanosoma vivax in sheep destined for slaughter caused economic losses of 31.66% due to the decrease in performance and the death rate in the infected group.

Effects of early weaning on growth, feed efficiency and carcass traits in Shorthorn cattle

2010 ◽  
Vol 50 (4) ◽  
pp. 315 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. L. Wolcott ◽  
H.-U. Graser ◽  
D. J. Johnston
Keyword(s):  
Feed Intake ◽  
Feed Efficiency ◽  
Carcass Traits ◽  
Residual Feed Intake ◽  
Carcass Composition ◽  
Early Weaning ◽  
Feed Conversion ◽  
Muscle Area ◽  
Eye Muscle ◽  
The Impact

This study aimed to examine the impact of early weaning on residual feed intake, and other production and carcass traits, in a group of cattle subjected to early or conventional weaning treatments, but otherwise managed as contemporaries. Shorthorn (n = 140) calves were randomly allocated by sex and sire to early and conventional weaning treatments. Early weaned animals (n = 69) were weaned at an average of 123 days of age and 145 kg liveweight, while conventionally weaned steers and heifers (n = 71) were 259 days old at weaning and 273 kg. Following conventional weaning, animals were managed as contemporaries through backgrounding, and entered feedlot finishing at a mean age of 353 and 408 days for heifers and steers, respectively, for finishing and feed intake testing. At the conclusion of feed intake testing hip height was measured, and animals were ultrasound scanned to assess fat depth, eye muscle area and percent intramuscular fat. Early weaned animals were significantly lighter (P < 0.001) than their conventionally weaned contemporaries, when weighed at conventional weaning. The weight difference observed at conventional weaning of 19.4 kg between treatment groups persisted throughout the experiment, with significant (P < 0.05) differences of 17.1, 15.6 and 15.8 kg at feedlot entry, and the start and end of the feed intake test period, respectively. Weaning treatment also approached significance for daily feed intake (P = 0.06), with early weaned animals tending to eat less than their conventionally weaned contemporaries (daily feed intake = 11.6 and 12.0 kg, respectively). Weaning treat\ment did not significantly affect feed efficiency whether measured as residual feed intake (P = 0.64) or feed conversion ratio (P = 0.27). None of the other traits measured were significantly affected by weaning treatment. These data showed that early weaning, as implemented for this experiment, resulted in animals that were lighter than their conventionally weaned contemporaries through backgrounding and finishing. Weaning treatment did not, however, influence feed efficiency or the post-weaning growth and carcass composition traits measured for this experiment.

The effect of preweaning growth restriction on the feed intake and efficiency of cattle on a grain-based diet before slaughter

2004 ◽  
Vol 44 (5) ◽  
pp. 483 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. W. Hennessy ◽  
P. F. Arthur
Keyword(s):  
Feed Intake ◽  
Growth Rates ◽  
Feed Efficiency ◽  
Average Daily Gain ◽  
Carcass Traits ◽  
Feed Conversion ◽  
Muscle Area ◽  
Eye Muscle ◽  
Efficiency Measures ◽  
Highly Correlated

Records on 78 steers and heifers were used to determine relationships among different measures of growth, feed efficiency and carcass traits, and to evaluate the effects of 2 preweaning growth rates on growth and efficiency in a feedlot. The preweaning growth rates [g/day; 871 (high) or 466 (low)] were imposed on the steers and heifers for 115 days before they were weaned at a mean age of 220 days. They were 'backgrounded' for 7 months on high quality pastures before finishing on grain-based diets in a feedlot for 85 days. The cattle were then slaughtered and carcass measurements recorded. Estimates were made on 10 growth and feed efficiency indices during the feedlot, and 5 carcass traits were assessed at slaughter. Of the indices, the Kleiber ratio which does not require measurement of feed intake (r = 0.98), was highly correlated with relative growth rate (RGR), as was feed conversion ratio (FCR, r = –0.82), which includes feed intake in the calculation. Residual feed intake, calculated using the expected feed intake estimated from the dataset (RFIREG), was correlated (r = 0.62) with RFI calculated from Australian feeding standards (RFISCA), and with FCR (r = 0.45). FCR was not correlated with either carcass rib or hot P8 fat depths but was significantly correlated with carcass weight (0.39), dressing percentage (0.41) and eye muscle area (0.33). RFIREG was not correlated with any of the 5 carcass traits. Whilst the average daily gain in the feedlot was similar between the 2 preweaning groups (1.544 kg/day), the low group was significantly (P<0.05) lighter at feedlot entry (323 v. 376 kg). Daily feed intake was lower (P<0.01) in the low group (10.9 v. 11.8 kg) such that the FCR tended to be lower (P<0.10) relative to the high group. Differences between the preweaning treatment groups were not significant for the other measures of feed efficiency. The results indicate that early life nutritional restriction has some influence on FCR in the feedlot, but little effect on those feed efficiency measures, such as RFI, that account for energy required for both maintenance of liveweight and growth.

scholarly journals 146 Survey of residual feed intake in Katahdin and Texel lambs in a feedlot environment

2020 ◽  
Vol 98 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 75-76
Author(s):  
Camren l Maierle ◽  
Andrew R Weaver ◽  
Eugene Felton ◽  
Scott P Greiner ◽  
Scott A Bowdridge
Keyword(s):  
Feed Intake ◽  
Feed Efficiency ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Residual Feed Intake ◽  
Production Traits ◽  
Meaningful Improvement ◽  
Average Intake ◽  
Test Population ◽  
Feeding Trials ◽  
Genetic Evaluations

Abstract Residual feed intake (RFI) is quickly becoming the preferred measurement of efficiency in many species due to its inherent independence of most other important production traits. Making meaningful improvement in feed efficiency of sheep will require a consistent methodology to accurately identify efficient individuals. Due to difficulty in measuring this trait efforts must be made to incorporate efficiency data in large-scale genetic evaluations. The aim of this study was to evaluate lambs in a feedlot with large-scale genetic evaluations for feed efficiency calculated by residual feed intake (RFI) utilizing a Growsafe™ system. RFI was calculated by subtracting expected intake from actual intake. Expected intake was determined by regressing metabolic body size of mid-test weight. Regression determined ADG on actual intake for individuals in the population. Texel (n = 58) and Katahdin (n = 118) lambs were placed in a feedlot and fed in separate feeding trials, a complete pellet ad libitum as the sole source of nutrition. In this environment Texel and Katahdin lambs had expected ADG values (0.27 kg/day, 0.32 kg/day respectively) and actual intake data (2154.17 g/day, 1909.33 g/day respectively. After a period of adaptation, Texel average intake was determined over a period of 27 consecutive days and used to calculate individual RFI within the test population. Observable ranges of RFI (-0.62 – +0.62) were seen in the Texel lambs. At the start of the Katahdin trial lambs were separated by sex and FEC treatment. After a period of adaptation, Katahdin average intake was determined over a period of 42 consecutive days and used to calculate individual RFI within the test population. Observable ranges of RFI (-0.53 – +0.50) were seen in the Katahdin lambs as well. In both feeding trials RFI appeared to be normally distributed. Use of this technology may be useful in identifying superior individuals for feed efficiency.

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