Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:
https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/28988
Title: | Possibilities of Shortening the Number Days on Feed for Calculating NFI in Cattle | Contributor(s): | Clark, S A (author) ; van der Werf, J H J (author) | Publication Date: | 2017 | Open Access: | Yes | Handle Link: | https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/28988 | Open Access Link: | http://www.aaabg.org/aaabghome/fullproc22.php | Abstract: | Feed efficiency is an important trait in many beef cattle breeding programs. The current measure of feed efficiency used in beef cattle is net feed intake (NFI). Current measurement protocols stipulate a 70 day test period to obtain a reliable NFI phenotype, incurring a significant economic cost. This study examined the phenotypic and genetic implications of shortening the number of days on feed in the calculation of NFI phenotypes. Phenotypic and genetic parameters were estimated for 5 trial lengths (14, 28, 42, 56 and 70 days) for NFI and its component traits; average daily gain (ADG), metabolic mid weight (MMWT) and daily feed intake (DFI). For NFI, 56 days on feed was highly genetically correlated with 70 day estimates. For shorter periods correlations reduced and variance components changed substantially. In contrast, daily feed intake could be measured well in short periods of time with genetic correlations of > 0.95 for lengths greater than 14 days. To substantially reduce the time on feed it is suggested that breeders consider collecting DFI information rather than NFI. If this was seen to be desirable an alternative way of balancing feed intake and weight gain would need to be explored. | Publication Type: | Conference Publication | Conference Details: | AAABG 2017: 22nd Conference of the Association for the Advancement of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Townsville, Australia, 2nd - 5th July, 2017 | Source of Publication: | Proceedings of the Association for the Advancement of Animal Breeding and Genetics, v.22, p. 175-178 | Publisher: | Association for the Advancement of Animal Breeding and Genetics (AAABG) | Place of Publication: | Armidale, Australia | ISSN: | 1328-3227 | Fields of Research (FoR) 2008: | 070201 Animal Breeding 060412 Quantitative Genetics (incl. Disease and Trait Mapping Genetics) 070299 Animal Production not elsewhere classified |
Fields of Research (FoR) 2020: | 300305 Animal reproduction and breeding 310506 Gene mapping |
Socio-Economic Objective (SEO) 2008: | 830301 Beef Cattle | Socio-Economic Objective (SEO) 2020: | 100401 Beef cattle | Peer Reviewed: | Yes | HERDC Category Description: | E1 Refereed Scholarly Conference Publication | Publisher/associated links: | http://www.aaabg.org/aaabghome/ |
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Appears in Collections: | Conference Publication School of Environmental and Rural Science |
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