Committee Technical Sessions:
Cow Herd Efficiency & Selection Decisions
Feeding Behavior as Indicator Traits for Genetic Evaluation of Feed Intake
BOZEMAN, Mont. (June 2, 2011) — It is no surprise that a cow’s energy maintenance requirements are highly related to her level of productivity. Years ago, researchers in Nebraska determined that as a cow’s milk production increases, her energy requirements generally go up, said Gordon Carstens, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas.
It might be news to some producers, however, that residual feed intake (RFI) is a highly heritable trait and can be measured independent of average daily gain (ADG). What does this mean in layman’s terms? Researchers can identify individual cattle that convert feed more efficiently; they will gain as much or more weight than their counterparts while eating less. Because this trait is believed to be heritable, cattle producers can use this information when making heifer and bull selections to significantly reduce feed costs.
“We’re trying to find animals that are eating less than expected,” Carstens said. And through exhaustive research to determine frequency and timing of “bunk visits,” number and duration of “meals,” as well as heart rate, number of steps taken during the day and other factors, they have identified animals with a lower RFI.
Carstens’ research indicated that animals with lower RFI have lower heat production, lower heart rates, higher nutrient digestibility, less carcass fat, more-efficient muscle mitochondria and more-efficient liver mitochondria; they produce less methane; and they spend less time eating per day.
Carstens determined that lower-RFI dams produced lower-RFI offspring, making his research significant to those cattle producers with an interest in profitability. “On average, 70% of a producer’s feed goes into his cow herd, so, economically, this research is useful to identify ways to reduce those energy requirements,” he said.
Carstens presented to a joint technical session of BIF’s Cow Herd Efficiency and Selection Decisions committees. To listen to this presentation and to view the PowerPoint that accompanied it, visit the Newsroom at www.BIFconference.com.
BIF’s 43rd Annual Research Symposium and Annual Meeting was hosted June 1-4 on campus at Montana State University, Bozeman, Mont.
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