Cow Herd Efficiency & Adaptability Committee:
Feed Intake: Beyond the Guidelines
by Troy Smith, field editor, for Angus Journal®
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. (June 14, 2013) — Opportunities for genetic improvement derived from collection of postweaning feed-intake data was discussed during the 2013 Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) Research Symposium and Convention in Oklahoma City June 12-15. Reporting to the Cow Herd Efficiency and Adaptability Committee were Susan Willmon, director of breed Improvement for the American Gelbvieh Association, and animal scientist Patrick Doyle of California State University–Chico. The pair reviewed BIF guidelines for data collection, shared related concerns and noted challenges to progress in developing multi-trait selection tools involving feed intake.
“We feel we are making progress, but we don’t need just another EPD,” opined Willmon. “What we need are aggregate measures.”
Doyle agreed, noting selection index criteria of dry-matter intake, average daily gain and yearling weight. With genetic evaluations in place, he added, multi-trait selection tools can be developed to describe aggregate genetic merit.
Willmon and Doyle said refinement of BIF guidelines may be beneficial. For example, they advised consideration of more standardization of data protocols and quality-control parameters.
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