Relationships between progeny residual feed intake and dam productivity traits

2007 ◽  
Vol 87 (4) ◽  
pp. 489-502 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. A. Basarab ◽  
D. McCartney ◽  
E. K. Okine ◽  
V. S. Baron
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Feed Intake ◽  
Production Efficiency ◽  
Residual Feed Intake ◽  
Backfat Thickness ◽  
Second Trimester ◽  
Gain Ratio ◽  
Weight Growth ◽  
Production Cycles ◽  
Fat Thickness

Two hundred and twenty-two yearling calves and their dams were used to examine the phenotypic (rp) relationships between progeny residual feed intake (RFI) and maternal productivity across 10 production cycles. Progeny RFI ranged from -3.95 to +2.72 kg as fed d-1 (SD = 0.94), while RFI adjusted for off-test backfat thickness (RFIadj), ranged from -2.48 to +1.53 kg as fed d-1 (SD = 0.88). Progeny RFI and RFIadj were unrelated to on-test age, body weight, growth rate, and ultrasound longissimus thoracis area and positively related to feed intake (rp = 0.51 to 0.53; P < 0.001), feed to gain ratio (rp = 0.44 to 0.46; P < 0.001), feeding behaviour traits (rp = 0.29 to 0.36; P < 0.001) and cow RFI (rp = 0.30, P < 0.05). Progeny RFI was positively related to measures of body fat (rp = 0.21 to 0.27; P < 0.05), but these relationships disappeared when RFI was adjusted for off-test backfat thickness. Cows that had produced LOW (≤ 0.5 SD), MEDIUM (± 0.5 SD) or HIGH (≥ 0.5 SD) RFIadj progeny were similar in pregnancy (95.6 vs. 95.3 vs. 96.0%, P = 0.90), calving (84.9 vs. 83.4 vs. 86.3%, P = 0.62) and weaning (81.5 vs. 80.2 vs. 82.3%, P = 0.79) rates. However, cows that produced HIGH RFIadj progeny had a higher twinning rate (3.77 vs. 0.35 vs. 0.00%, P < 0.001) and an increased calf death loss (8.06 vs. 4.24 vs. 4.02%, P = 0.10) compared with cows that produced MEDIUM or LOW RFIadj progeny. Cow body weight over 10 production cycles was similar at weaning, pre-calving and pre-breeding for dams that had produced LOW, MEDIUM and HIGH RFIadj progeny, and dams that produced LOW RFIadj progeny consistently averaged 2–3 mm more back fat thickness than dams that produced HIGH RFIadj progeny. Calf birth weight, pre-weaning ADG and 200-d weight, and cow production efficiency and calving interval were similar among dams that produced LOW, MEDIUM and HIGH RFIadj progeny. In addition, dams that produced LOW RFIadj progeny consumed less feed during their second trimester of pregnancy (10.9 vs. 11.6 vs. 12.2 kg DM d-1, P < 0.05), had lower RFI values (-0.05 vs. 0.44 vs. 1.88 kg as fed d-1, P = 0.018) and calved later in the year (96 vs. 90 vs. 91 d Julian, P < 0.001) than dams that produced MEDIUM and HIGH RFIadj progeny. These results showed that efficient RFI progeny and dams consumed less feed, had improved feed to gain ratio and spent less time in feed activity than inefficient cows and calves. In addition, cows that produced efficient calves were fatter, had fewer twins, less calf death loss and produced the same weight of calf weaned per cow exposed to breeding compared with cows that produced inefficient progeny. However, cows that produced efficient or low RFI progeny calved 5–6 d later in the year than cows that produced inefficient or high RFI progeny, indicating a need to monitor reproductive fitness in low RFI replacement heifers and breeding bulls. Key words: Residual feed intake, cow reproduction, lifetime production efficiency

Effect of post-weaning residual feed intake classification on grazed grass intake and performance in pregnant beef heifers

2015 ◽  
Vol 95 (3) ◽  
pp. 369-381 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Manafiazar ◽  
J. A. Basarab ◽  
V. S. Baron ◽  
L. McKeown ◽  
R. R. Doce ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Feed Intake ◽  
Average Daily Gain ◽  
Residual Feed Intake ◽  
Backfat Thickness ◽  
Automated System ◽  
Adaptation Period ◽  
Beef Heifers ◽  
Fat Thickness ◽  
And Performance

Manafiazar, G., Basarab, J. A., Baron, V. S., McKeown, L., Doce, R. R., Swift, M., Undi, M., Wittenberg, K. and Ominski, K. 2015. Effect of post-weaning residual feed intake classification on grazed grass intake and performance in pregnant beef heifers. Can. J. Anim. Sci. 95: 369–381. There is limited knowledge of how cattle tested for feed efficiency under drylot conditions perform when they graze on summer pasture. Residual feed intake adjusted for end of test backfat thickness (RFIfat) was determined on 171 beef crossbred heifers under drylot conditions over 2 yr using an automated system. Upon completion of the test, the 10 lowest and 10 highest RFIfat (–0.54±0.17 vs. 0.58±0.15 kg DM d−1) heifers in 2012, and the 14 lowest and 14 highest RFIfat (−0.47±0.16 vs. 0.53±0.19 kg DM d−1) heifers in 2013 were selected and placed on meadow bromegrass pasture to investigate the effect of RFIfat ranking on their grass intake and performance on the pasture. The pasture adaptation period (8 d in 2012 and 19 d in 2013) was followed by a pasture feed intake experiment during which heifers were dosed twice daily (0815 and 1415) with 500 g of C32-labeled feed pellet for 13 d (day 0 to 12) and fecal sampled twice daily (0815 and 1415) from day 8 to 12. Forage DM intake on pasture for each heifer was determined using the double alkane (C31/C32) methodology. High and low RFIfat heifers were similar in body weight (BW), backfat and rump fat thickness, and average daily gain (ADG) during the grazing trial period, except backfat thickness at the end of test period. However, low RFIfat heifers consumed 5.3% less forage when expressed as kg DM d−1 (8.20±0.08 vs. 8.66±0.09, P<0.001) and 5.1% less when expressed as a percentage of body weight (1.86±0.02 vs. 1.96±0.02% of BW, P<0.001) compared with high RFIfat heifers. RFIfat measured under drylot conditions in growing heifers was positively correlated to grazed RFIfat determined in pregnant heifers (rp=0.30, P=0.04). These results suggest that beef heifers classified as low RFIfat during the post-weaning drylot period had lower dry matter intake as heifers in their first pregnancy grazing tame pasture, with no negative impact on their body weight, back-fat thickness, and ADG compared with their high RFIfat herdmates.

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 Residual feed intake and relationships with performance of Nellore cattle selected for post weaning weight

2011 ◽  
Vol 40 (4) ◽  
pp. 929-937 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Lucila Sobrinho ◽  
R.H. Branco ◽  
S.F.M. Bonilha ◽  
A.M. Castilhos ◽  
L.A. Figueiredo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Standard Deviation ◽  
Feed Intake ◽  
Average Daily Gain ◽  
Residual Feed Intake ◽  
Feed Conversion ◽  
Relative Growth ◽  
Kleiber Ratio ◽  
Nellore Cattle ◽  
Daily Gain

The objective of this work was to evaluate performance, efficiency parameters and phenotypic correlations among measurements of energy efficiency of Nellore cattle selected for post weaning weight and classified according to residual feed intake, calculated by the difference between observed and predicted intake, based on average metabolic body weight and average daily gain. Thus, animals were classified within three groups: high (> mean + 0.5 standard deviation, less efficient); medium (±0.5 standard deviation of the mean); and low (< mean - 0.5 standard deviation, more efficient) residual feed intake. No differences were observed at initial and final body weights, average daily gain and dry matter intake among groups. Animals with low residual feed intake also had greater feed efficiency, feed conversion and partial efficiency of growth and did not differ from the other animals regarding to relative growth rate and Kleiber ratio. Residual feed intake was significantly correlated to feed efficiency (-0.25), feed conversion (0.25), partial efficiency of growth (-0.37) and dry matter intake (0.16) but it did not present significant correlation with body weight (0.04), average daily gain (-0.02), relative growth rate (-0.03) and Kleiber ratio (-0.05). Significant correlations were found between feed conversion and initial body weight (0.34) and average daily gain (-0.46). Partial efficiency of growth presented significant correlation with all other efficiency parameters analyzed. Residual feed intake has high potential in productive efficiency, when compared to the other energy efficiency measurements, being independent of growth and size of the animals.

scholarly journals Blood cell and metabolic profile of Nellore bulls and their correlations with residual feed intake and feed conversion ratio

2013 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 527-537 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miguel Henrique de Almeida Santana ◽  
Paulo Rossi Junior ◽  
Rodrigo de Almeida ◽  
Amanda Massaneira de Souza Schuntzemberger
Keyword(s):  
Blood Cell ◽  
Feed Intake ◽  
Residual Feed Intake ◽  
Degradation Process ◽  
Conversion Ratio ◽  
Feed Conversion Ratio ◽  
Feed Conversion ◽  
Fat Thickness ◽  
Blood Urea Level ◽  
Synthesis And Degradation

Due to the potential metabolic changes related to the residual feed intake (RFI), this study investigated the correlation of traditional RFI (RFI1), RFI adjusted for final rump fat thickness (RFI2) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) with the metabolic and blood profiles, as well as determined the possible different classes of RFI1 and RFI2. For this purpose, 46 Nellore bulls, 22 month-old and 411kg of weight at the beginning of the study were used. The animals were fed with the same diet for 84 days, and blood samples were collected every 21 days for evaluation of serum metabolites and blood cell profiles. No significant correlations were found between FCR and metabolic or blood traits, although there was a significant correlation between RFI1 and urea serum concentration. There were also differences between the RFI classes for creatinine, in which more efficient animals showed higher values. The RFI2 did not correlate with any metabolic and blood cell variable, but young bulls with smaller RFI2 had a smaller number of eosinophils when compared to animals with higher RFI2. These results suggest that animals with a high RFI can have greater energy expenditure due to protein synthesis and degradation process, resulting in a larger blood urea level.

Is it useful to define residual feed intake as a trait in animal breeding programs?

2004 ◽  
Vol 44 (5) ◽  
pp. 405 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. H. J. van der Werf
Keyword(s):  
Feed Intake ◽  
Production Efficiency ◽  
Residual Feed Intake ◽  
Selection Response ◽  
Random Regression ◽  
Biological Efficiency ◽  
Multiple Trait ◽  
Selection Indices ◽  
Feed Utilisation ◽  
Definition Of

Residual feed intake is a linear function of feed intake, production and maintenance of liveweight, and as such is an attractive characteristic to use to represent production efficiency. The phenotypic and genetic parameters of residual feed intake can be written as a function of its constituent traits. Moreover, selection indices containing the constituent traits are equivalent with an index that includes residual feed intake. Therefore, definition of the term residual feed intake may be useful to interpret variation in production efficiency, but it does not help in obtaining a better selection response than selection on constituent traits alone. In fact, multiple trait genetic evaluation of constituent traits rather than residual feed intake is likely to be more accurate as this more appropriately accommodates different models for the constituent traits and missing data. For residual feed intake to reflect true biological efficiency in growing animals, it is important that feed intake and liveweight are accurately measured. Accounting for growth and body composition would significantly help in revealing between-animal variation in feed utilisation. Random regression models can be helpful in indicating variation in feed efficiency over the growth trajectory.

scholarly journals Effects of Replacing Groundnut Cake with Blood Vegetable Waste Meal in the Diets of Weaner Rabbits

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-4
Author(s):  
Adedayo Abiodun Adeniji
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Weight Gain ◽  
Feed Intake ◽  
Crude Protein ◽  
Body Weight Gain ◽  
Control Diet ◽  
Vegetable Waste ◽  
Gain Ratio ◽  
Groundnut Cake ◽  
Ad Libitum

A total of seventy-two weaner rabbits of eight weeks of age were used to assess the effects of replacing groundnut cake (GNC) with blood vegetable waste meal (BVWM) in the diets of rabbits. The BVWM was fed to replace dietary GNC at 0, 15, 30, and 45%, with GNC being 15% in the control diet. The four experimental diets were fed ad libitum for a period of eight weeks. BVWM was analyzed to contain a crude protein value of 62.35%. There were comparable feed intake values by rabbits on all the diets although the rabbits in the higher replacement levels of BVWM tended to have consumed more of the feed. There were significant increases (P<0.05) in body weight gain by rabbits as the BVWM level increased in the diet. Similarly, the feed to gain ratio improved and nitrogen digestibility increased (P<0.05) with higher levels of BVWM in the diet. This study shows that rabbits can tolerate the 45% BVWM replacement of groundnut cake effectively.

scholarly journals Relationships between residual feed intake and feedlot performance, profitability, and carcass traits in Brahman cattle

2018 ◽  
Vol 70 (2) ◽  
pp. 525-534 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Favero ◽  
I.Y. Mizubuti ◽  
R.C. Gomes ◽  
E.L.A. Ribeiro ◽  
E.S. Pereira ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Weight Gain ◽  
Feed Intake ◽  
Average Daily Gain ◽  
Carcass Traits ◽  
Residual Feed Intake ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Biceps Femoris ◽  
Feedlot Performance ◽  
Brahman Cattle ◽  
Fat Thickness

ABSTRACT The present study aimed to evaluate the feedlot performance, profitability and carcass traits of Brahman bulls classified according to the residual feed intake (RFI). Twenty-four bulls (19-month old, 370±34kg live weight) were housed in individual pens for 54 days and had the daily feed intake (observed dry matter intake, DMIobs; DMI % live weight, LW) and average daily gain (ADG) measured. Ultrasound carcass evaluations were performed at the initial and final weighings, when measurements were taken of Longissimus dorsi area, ratio, Longissimus and Biceps femoris fat thickness. The animals were ranked and divided into high (>+0.5 standard deviation; SD), medium (between ±0.5 SD from the mean), and low (<-0.5 SD) RFI groups. Low-RFI animals had lower DMIobs (P<0.10) and DMI % LW (P<0.05). No significant differences in initial and final weight or ADG were noticed (P>0.05). Low-RFI animals showed lower weight gain cost and higher daily profit (P<0.05). Carcass traits were similar between groups, regardless of evaluation date (P>0.05). Selection for RFI lead to animals with lower feed intake without affecting weight gain or carcass traits, thereby providing increased profitability for beef cattle farming.

Interrelationships among age, body weight, backfat and lactation feed intake with reproductive performance and longevity of sows

1991 ◽  
Vol 71 (2) ◽  
pp. 567-575 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. G. Young ◽  
G. J. King ◽  
J. Shaw ◽  
M. Quinton ◽  
J. S. Walton ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Regression Analysis ◽  
Reproductive Performance ◽  
Feed Intake ◽  
Stepwise Regression ◽  
Analysis Data ◽  
Backfat Thickness ◽  
Appreciable Amount ◽  
Regression Equations ◽  
Dietary Energy

Data from an experiment involving gilts mated at first, second or third observed estrus and feeding of three levels of gestation energy throughout four parities were used to evaluate the effects of age, body weight, backfat thickness and changes in them on various measures of reproductive performance. Regression equations were estimated by using a stepwise regression analysis. Data were available for 304 initial sows that farrowed a first litter of which 115 farrowed to initial assigned breeding within gestation dietary energy level and completed four parities. Age, weight, backfat thickness or ratios between them at initial mating did not account for an appreciable amount of the variation (R2 < 0.08) in number of pigs born alive in the first litter or total number of pigs born alive per initial sow. Feed intake in lactation, age at first estrus as gilts or age at breeding of sows and the ratio of backfat to weight at farrowing accounted for a small proportion of the variation in weaning to estrus interval. There was an increased culling rate of sows with less than 12 mm P2 backfat at weaning after parities 2 and 3. Key words: Weight, backfat, reproduction, longevity, sows

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