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MEASUREMENT OF EFFICIENCY OF FEED UTILISATION IN BEEF CATTLE

JA Archer, PF Parnell, W. S. Pitchford

Abstract

A. 5064 SUMMARY Feed intake data from 108 yearling bulls were analysed to compare gross efficiency and residual feed intake as measures which can be used to identify individuals which utilise feed more efficiently. Weight maintained accounted for a large amount of the variation in feed intake, while weight gain accounted for a relatively small proportion. Feed intake and residual feed intake measured over a 4 week period were moderately repeatable, but repeatability of weight gain and gross efficiency were low. Gross efficiency and residual feed intake were poorly correlated. The higher repeatability of residual feed intake than gross efficiency suggests that this is a more useful measure of efficiency. Keywords: efficiency, residual feed intake , gross efficiency, beef cattle.

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Key concepts: Residual feed intake, Feed conversion ratio, Repeatability, Animal science, Residual, Beef cattle, Mathematics, Biology