Impact of Selection for Residual Feed Intake on Forage Intake by Beef.pdfVIP

Impact of Selection for Residual Feed Intake on Forage Intake by Beef Cows and Feed Efficiency of Progeny M. S. Kerley1 Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri Introduction Use of residual feed intake (RFI) analysis to assess efficiency differences among cattle was first published by Koch et al (1963). Gain was regressed on intake and body weight with resulting regression coefficients used to compute expected gain for each animal based upon group average performance. This approach was adapted to compute RFI whereby intakes of animals in a test group are regressed against their body weight and daily gain. Regression coefficients for body weight and gain are then used to compute an expected intake for each animal, and difference between intake and expected intake reported as RFI. RFI is argued as a superior measurement of feed efficiency compared to feed conversion ratio (feed to gain ratio; FCR) because it is not confounded by gain. Residual feed intake is believed to provide a measure of metabolic efficiency. Feed conversion ratio, while correlated to RFI, is improved by both greater metabolic efficiency and improved growth rate. Thus using FCR as selection criteria would select for greater growth rate, and in turn increase frame score/mature weight. Animals with a negative RFI are believed to be more efficient at using consumed energy for maintenance and growth functions. Our goal in animal selection is to identify and propagate animals near biological maximum for efficiency of consumed energy use, and RFI provides a phenotype for that purpose. But how much progress can be expected when selection pressure for RFI is applied? Intake among calves similar in body weight and daily gain will vary by 40%. Consequently range in metabolic efficiency among indiv