Potential for selection to improve efficiency of feed use in beef cattle: A review

Australian Journal of Agricultural Research

Volumn 50, Issue 2, 1999, Pages 147-161

  Archer, J A ^a   Richardson, E C ^a   Herd, R M ^a   Arthur, P F ^a  

^a NSW AGRICULTURE   (Australia)

Author keywords

Feed intake

Indexed keywords

EID: 0032988272     PISSN: 00049409     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1071/a98075     Document Type: Article

References (90)

1. Andersen, B. B. (1978). Animal size and efficiency, with special reference to growth and feed conversion in cattle. Animal Production 27, 381-91.
2. ARC (1980). 'The Nutrient Requirements of Ruminant Livestock.' (Commonwealth Agricultural Bureaux: Farnham Royal, UK.)
3. Archer, J. A. (1996). Genetic variation in the efficiency of feed utilisation by animals. PhD Thesis, University of Adelaide, Australia.
4. Archer, J. A., Arthur, P. F., Herd, R. M., Parnell, P. F., and Pitchford, W. S. (1997). Optimum postweaning test for measurement of growth rate, feed intake and efficiency in British breed cattle. Journal of Animal Science 75, 2024-32.
5. Archer, J. A., Pitchford, W. S., Hughes, T. E., and Parnell, P. F. (1998). Genetic and phenotypic relationships between feed intake, growth, efficiency and body composition of mice post-weaning and at maturity. Animal Science 67, 171 -82.
6. van Arendonk, J. A. M., Nieuwhof, G. J., Vos, H., and Korver, S. (1991). Genetic aspects of feed intake and efficiency in lactating dairy heifers. Livestock Production Science 29, 263-75.
7. Arthur, P. F., Archer, J. A., Herd, R. M., Richardson, E. C., Exton, S. C., Wright, J. H., Dibley, K. C. P., and Burton, D. A. (1997). Genetic and phenotypic variation in feed intake, feed efficiency and growth in beef cattle. Proceedings of the 12th Conference of the Association for the Advancement of Animal Breeding and Genetics 12, 234-7.
8. Ball, A. J., and Thompson, J. M. (1995). The effect of selection for differences in ultrasonic backfat depth on the feed utilisation for maintanence and biological efficiency in sheep. Proceedings of the Australian Association of Animal Breeding and Genetics 11, 403-7.
9. Barlow, R. (1984). Selection for growth and size in ruminants: is it time for a moratorium? In 'Proceedings of the 2nd World Congress on Sheep and Beef Cattle Breeding'. (Eds J. H. Hofmeyr and E. H. H. Meyer.) pp. 421-32. (South African Stud Book and Livestock Improvement Association: Bloemfontein.)
10. Barwick, S. A., Fuchs, W., Davis, G. P., and Hammond, K. (1992). A breeding objective and selection index package for use with BREEDPLAN. Proceedings of the Australian Association of Animal Breeding and Genetics 10, 565-8.
11. Beef Improvement Federation (1996). 'Guidelines for Uniform Beef Improvement Programs.' 7th Edn. (Ed. C. Bailey.) (Beef Improvement Federation: USA.)
12. Bishop, M. D., Davis, M. E., Harvey, W. R., Wilson, G. R., and VanStavern, B. D. (1991). Divergent selection for postweaning feed conversion in Angus beef cattle: II. Genetic and phenotypic correlations and realised heritability estimates. Journal of Animal Science 69, 4360-7.
13. Bishop, S. C., Broadbent, J. S., Kay, R. M., Rigby, I., and Fisher, A. V. (1992). The performance of Hereford × Fresian offspring of bulls selected for lean growth rate and lean food conversion efficiency. Animal Production 54, 23-30.
14. Brelin, B., and Brannang, E. (1982). Phenotypic and genetic variation in feed efficiency of growing cattle and their relationship with growth rate, carcass traits and metabolic efficiency. Swedish Journal of Agricultural Research 12, 29-34.
15. Burrin, D. G., Ferrell, C. L., Britton, R. A., and Bauer, M. (1990). Level of nutrition and visceral organ size and metabolic activity in sheep. British Journal of Nutrition 64, 439-48.
16. Buttazzoni, L., and Mao, I. L. (1989). Genetic parameters of estimated net energy efficiencies for milk production, maintenance and body weight change in dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science 72, 671-7.
17. Cameron, N. D. (1998). Across species comparisons in selection for efficiency. Proceedings 6th World Congress on Genetics Applied to Livestock Production, Armidale, Australia 25, 73-80.
18. Carstens, G. E., Johnson, D. E., Johnson, K. A., Hotovy, S. K., and Szymanski, T. J. (1989). Genetic variation in energy expenditures of monozygous twin beef cattle at 9 and 20 months of age. In 'Energy Metabolism of Farm Animals'. Proceedings 11th Symposium, Luteren, Netherlands, EAAP Publication No. 43. (Eds Y. Van der Honing and W. H. Close.) (Pudoc: Wageningen.)
19. Cleveland, E. R., Johnson, R. K., Mandigo, R. W., and Peo, E. R. Jr (1983). Index selection and feed intake restriction in swine. II. Effect on energy utilisation. Journal of Animal Science 56, 570-8.
20. Dickerson, G. E. (1978). Animal size and efficiency: basic concepts. Animal Production 27, 367-79.
21. DiCostanzo, A., Meiske, J. C., Plegge, S. D., Peters, T. M., and Goodrich, R. D. (1990). Within-herd variation in energy utilisation for maintanence and gain in beef cows. Journal of Animal Science 68, 2156-65.
22. Dove, H., and Mayes, R. W. (1991). The use of plant wax alkanes as marker substances in studies of the nutrition of herbivores: a review. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 42, 913-52.
23. Early, R. J., McBride, B. W., and Ball, R. O. (1990). Growth and metabolism in somatotropin-treated steers: III Protein synthesis and tissue energy expenditures. Journal of Animal Science 68, 4153-66.
24. Fan, L. Q., Bailey, D. R. C., and Shannon, N. H. (1995). Genetic parameter estimation of post-weaning gain, feed intake and feed efficiency for Hereford and Angus bulls fed two different diets. Journal of Animal Science 73, 365-72.
25. Farquharson, R. (1993). What is the cost of feed? In 'Proceedings of The 3rd National Conference of The Beef Improvement Association of Australia', pp. 33-40. (Beef Improvement Association of Australia: Ballarat.)
26. Ferrell, C. L., and Jenkins, T. G. (1984). Energy utilisation by mature, nonpregnant, nonlactating cows of different types. Journal of Animal Science 58, 234-43.
27. Ferrell, C. L., and Jenkins, T. G (1985). Cow type and the nutritional environment: nutritional aspects. Journal of Animal Science 61, 725-41.
28. Ferrell, C. L., Koong, L. J., and Nienaber, J. A. (1986). Effect of previous nutrition on body composition and maintenance energy costs of growing lambs. British Journal of Nutrition 56, 595-605.
29. Fitzhugh, H. A. (1978). Animal size and efficiency, with special reference to the breeding female. Animal Production 27, 393-401.
30. Franklin, C. L., Thayne, W. V., Wagner, W. R., Stevens, L. P., and Inskeep, E. K. (1987). Factors affecting gain of beef bulls consigned to a central test station. Bulletin 693. (Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station, West Virginia University: Morgantown, VA.)
31. Frisch, J. E., and Vercoe, J. E. (1984). An analysis of growth of different cattle genotypes reared in different environments. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 103, 137-53.
32. Gengler, N., Seutin, C., Boonen, F., and Van Vleck, L. D. (1995). Estimation of genetic parameters for growth, feed consumption, and conformation traits for double-muscled Belgian Blue bulls performance-tested in Belgium. Journal of Animal Science 73, 3269-73.
33. Gibson, J. P. (1986). Efficiency and performance of genetically high and low milk-producing British Fresian and Jersey cattle. Animal Production 42, 161-82.
34. Gregory, K. E. (1972). Beef cattle type for maximum efficiency 'Putting it all together'. Journal of Animal Science 34, 881-4.
35. Gunsett, F. C. (1984). Linear index selection to improve traits defined as ratios. Journal of Animal Science 59, 1185-93.
36. Hazel, L. N. (1943). The genetic basis for constructing selection indexes. Genetics 28, 476-90.
37. Herd, R. M., Oddy, V. H., and Lee, G. J. (1993). Effect of divergent selection for weaning weight on liveweight and wool growth responses to feed intake in Merino ewes. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 33, 699-705.
38. Herd, R. M., Williams, T. M. J., Woodgate, R., Ellis, K. J., and Oddy, V. H. (1996). Using alkane technology to measure intake of a barley diet by cattle. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society of Australia 20, 106.
39. Holmes, W. (1973). Size of animal in relation to productivity: nutritional aspects. Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Production 2, 27-34.
40. Jenkins, T. G., and Ferrell, C. L. (1994). Productivity through weaning of nine breeds of cattle under varying feed availabilities: I. Initial evaluation. Journal of Animal Science 72, 2787-97.
41. Jenkins, T. G, Ferrell, C. L., and Cundiff, L. V. (1986). Relationships of components of the body among mature cows as related to size, lactation potential and possible effects on productivity. Animal Production 43, 245-54.
42. Jensen, J., Mao, I. L., Andersen, B. B., and Madsen, P. (1991). Genetic parameters of growth, feed intake, feed conversion and carcass composition of dual-purpose bulls in performance testing. Journal of Animal Science 69, 931-9.
43. Jensen, J., Mao, I. L., Andersen, B. B., and Madsen, P. (1992). Phenotypic and genetic relationships between residual energy intake and growth, feed intake, and carcass traits of young bulls. Journal of Animal Science 70, 386-95.
44. Katle, J. (1991). Selection for efficiency of food utilisation in laying hens: causal factors for variation in residual food consumption. British Poultry Science 32, 955-69.
45. Kennedy, B. W., van der Werf, J. H. J., and Meuwissen, T. H. E. (1993). Genetic and statistical properties of residual feed intake. Journal of Animal Science 71, 3239-50.
46. Klosterman, E. W. (1972). Beef cattle size for maximum efficiency. Journal of Animal Science 34, 875-80.
47. Klosterman, E. W., Sanford, L. G., and Parker, C. F. (1968). Effect of cow size and condition and ration protein content upon maintenance requirements of mature beef cows. Journal of Animal Science 27, 242-6.
48. Koch, R. M., Swiger, L. A., Chambers, D., and Gregory, K. E. (1963). Efficiency of feed use in beef cattle. Journal of Animal Science 22, 486-94.
49. Koong, L. J., Ferrell, C. L., and Nienaber, J. A. (1982). Effects of plane of nutrition on organ size and fasting heat production in swine and sheep. In 'Proceedings of the 9th Symposium on Energy Metabolism of Farm Animals'. EAAP Pub. No. 29, pp. 245-8.
50. Korver, S. (1988). Genetic aspects of feed intake and feed efficiency in dairy cattle: a review. Livestock Production Science 20, 1-13.
51. Korver, S., Van Eekelen, E. A. M., Vos, H., Nieuwhof, G. J., and Van Arendonk, J. A. M. (1991). Genetic parameters for feed intake and feed efficiency in growing dairy heifers. Livestock Production Science 29, 49-59.
52. Ledger, H. P., and Sayers, A. R. (1977). The utilisation of dietary energy by steers during periods of restricted food intake and subsequent realimentation. 1. The effect of time on the maintenance requirements of steers held at constant liveweights. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 88, 11-26.
53. Luiting, P. (1991). The value of feed consumption data for breeding in laying hens. PhD Thesis, Wageningen Agricultural University, The Netherlands.
54. Luiting, P., Urff, E. M., and Vestergen, M. W. A. (1994). Between-animal variation in biological efficiency as related to residual feed consumption. Netherlands Journal of Agricultural Science 42, 59-67.
55. McDonald, P., Edwards, R. A., and Greenhalgh, J. F. D. (1988). 'Animal Nutrition.' 4th Edn. Ch. 9. (Longman Scientific & Technical: Essex, UK.)
56. Melton, A. A., Madox, L. A. Jr, Kruse, W. E., and Patterson, R. E. (1973). 'The Evolution of Performance Testing of Beef Cattle in Texas.' (Texas A & M University: College Station.) (Mimeo.)
57. Montano-Bermudez, M., Nielsen, M. K., and Deutscher, G. H. (1990). Energy requirements for maintenance of crossbred beef cattle with different genetic potential for milk. Journal of Animal Science 68, 2279-88.
58. Morrison, W. D., and Leeson, S. (1978). Relationship of feed efficiency to carcass composition and metabolic rate in laying birds. Poultry Science 57, 735-9.
59. Mrode, R. A., Smith, C., and Thompson, R. (1990). Selection for rate and efficiency of lean gain in Hereford cattle. 1. Selection pressure applied and direct responses. Animal Production 51, 23-34.
60. Müller, U., Luethold, G., and Reinecke, P. (1995). Prospects of indirect selection against residual feed intake in dairy cattle. Archir fur Tierzucht, Dummerstorf 38 (3), 277-87.
61. Murray, D. M., and Slezacek, O. (1988). The effect of weight stasis on the dissected carcass composition of crossbred sheep. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 39, 645-51.
62. Ngwerume, F. and Mao, I. L. (1992). Estimation of residual energy intake for lactating cows using an animal model. Journal of Dairy Science 75, 2283-7.
63. Nieuwhof, G. J., van Arendonk, J. A. M., Vos, H., and Korver, S. (1992). Genetic relationships between feed intake, efficiency and production traits in growing bulls, growing heifers and lactating heifers. Livestock Production Science 32, 189-202.
64. Oddy, V. H. (1993). Regulation of muscle protein metabolism in sheep and lambs: nutritional, endocrine and genetic aspects. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 44, 901-13.
65. Oddy, V. H., Herd, R. M., McDonagh, M. B., Woodgate, R. T., Quinn, C. A., and Zirkler, K. (1998). Effect of divergent selection for yearling growth rate on protein metabolism in hind-limb muscle and whole body of Angus cattle. Livestock Production Science (in press).
66. Owens, F. A., Gill, D. R., Secrist, D. S., and Coleman, S. W. (1995). Review of some aspects of growth and development of feedlot cattle. Journal of Animal Science 73, 3152-72.
67. Parnell, P. F., Herd, R. M., Perry, D., and Bootle, B. (1994). The Trangie experiment - responses in growth rate, size, maternal ability, reproductive performance, carcase composition, feed requirements and herd productivity. In The Consequences of Selection for Growth Rate in Beef Cattle'. (Ed. P. F. Parnell.) Proceedings of the Australian Society of Animal Production 20, 17-26.
68. Ponzoni, R. W., and Davies, R. L. (1989). An evaluation of biological and conventional pig selection indices. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 29, 775-9.
69. Richardson, E. C., Herd, R. M., Archer, J. A., Woodgate, R. T., and Arthur, P. F. (1998). Steers bred for improved net feed efficiency eat less for the same feedlot performance. Proceedings of the Australian Society of Animal Production 22, 213-6.
70. Richardson, E. C., Herd, R. M., Arthur, P. F., Wright, J., Xu, G., Dibley, K., and Oddy, V. H. (1996). Possible physiological indicators for net feed conversion efficiency in beef cattle. Proceedings of the Australian Society of Animal Production 21, 103-16.
71. Robinson, D. L., Hammond, K., Graser, H-U., and McDowell, G. H. (1992). Relationships between breeding values and physiological responses to fasting and refeeding in dairy bulls. Journal of Animal Breeding and Genetics 109, 26-36.
72. Russel, A. J. F., and Wright, I. A. (1983). Factors affecting maintenance requirements of beef cows. Animal Production 37, 329-34.
73. Salmon, R. K., Bailey, D. R. C., Weingardt, R., and Berg, R. T. (1990). Growth efficiency in mice selected for increased body weight. Canadian Journal of Animal Science 70, 371-81.
74. SCA (1990). 'Feeding Standards for Australian Livestock. Ruminants.' Standing Committee on Agriculture. Ruminants Subcommittee. (CSIRO Publications: Melbourne)
75. th World Congress on Genetics Applied to Livestock Production 25, 89-92.
76. Seebeck, R. M. (1973). The effect of body weight loss on the composition of Brahman cross and Africander cross steers. 1. Empty body weight, dressed carcass weight and offal components. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 80, 201-10.
77. Shuey, S. A., Birkelo, C. P., and Marshall, D. M. (1993). The relationship of the maintenance energy requirement to heifer production efficiency. Journal of Animal Science 71, 2253-59.
78. Simm, G., Smith, C., and Thompson, R. (1987). The use of product traits such as lean growth rate as selection criteria in animal breeding. Animal Production 45, 307-16.
79. Skinner, S., and Sundstrom, B. (1997). Management groups in BREEDPLAN. In 'Conference Proceedings for the BREEDPLAN Expo, Armidale, NSW'. pp. 23-6. National Beef Recording Scheme. (ABRI, UNE: Armidale, NSW.)
80. Smith, C. (1967). A note on the improvement of a trait by selecting on its components. Animal Production 9, 127-30.
81. Smith, N. E., and Baldwin, R. L. (1974). Effects of breed, pregnancy, and lactation on weight of organs and tissues in dairy cattle. Journal of Dairy Science 51, 1055-60.
82. Solis, J. C., Byers, F. M., Schelling, G. T., Long, C. R., and Greene, L. W. (1988). Maintenance requirements and energetic efficiency of cows of different breed types. Journal of Animal Science 66, 764-73.
83. Svendsen, M., Skipenes, P., and Mao, I. L. (1993). Genetic parameters in the feed conversion complex of primiparous cows in the first two trimesters. Journal of Animal Science 71, 1721-9.
84. Taylor, St. C. S., Thiessen, R. B., and Murray, J. (1986). Inter-breed relationship of maintenance efficiency to milk yield in cattle. Animal Production 43, 37-61.
85. Taylor, St. C. S., Turner, H. G., and Young, G. B. (1981). Genetic control of equilibrium maintenance efficiency in cattle. Animal Production 33, 179-94.
86. rd World Congress on Genetics Applied to Livestock Production 2, 271-7.
87. Thompson, W. R., Meiske, J. C., Goodrich, R. D., Rust, J. R., and Byers, F. M. (1983). Influence of body composition on energy requirements of beef cows during winter. Journal of Animal Science 56, 1241-52.
88. Veerkamp, R. F., and Emmans, G. C. (1995). Sources of genetic variation in energetic efficiency of dairy cows. Livestock Production Science 44, 87-97.
89. Veerkamp, R. F., Emmans, G. C., Cromie, A. R., and Simm, G. (1995). Variance components for residual feed intake in dairy cows. Livestock Production Science 41, 111-20.
90. Woolliams, J. A., and Smith, C. (1988). The value of indicator traits in the genetic improvement of dairy cattle. Animal Production 46, 333-45.