Is it useful to define residual feed intake as a trait in animal breeding programs?

2004 ◽  
Vol 44 (5) ◽  
pp. 405 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. H. J. van der Werf
Keyword(s):  
Feed Intake ◽  
Production Efficiency ◽  
Residual Feed Intake ◽  
Selection Response ◽  
Random Regression ◽  
Biological Efficiency ◽  
Multiple Trait ◽  
Selection Indices ◽  
Feed Utilisation ◽  
Definition Of

Residual feed intake is a linear function of feed intake, production and maintenance of liveweight, and as such is an attractive characteristic to use to represent production efficiency. The phenotypic and genetic parameters of residual feed intake can be written as a function of its constituent traits. Moreover, selection indices containing the constituent traits are equivalent with an index that includes residual feed intake. Therefore, definition of the term residual feed intake may be useful to interpret variation in production efficiency, but it does not help in obtaining a better selection response than selection on constituent traits alone. In fact, multiple trait genetic evaluation of constituent traits rather than residual feed intake is likely to be more accurate as this more appropriately accommodates different models for the constituent traits and missing data. For residual feed intake to reflect true biological efficiency in growing animals, it is important that feed intake and liveweight are accurately measured. Accounting for growth and body composition would significantly help in revealing between-animal variation in feed utilisation. Random regression models can be helpful in indicating variation in feed efficiency over the growth trajectory.

scholarly journals Claw health and feed efficiency as new selection criteria in the Czech Holstein cattle Krupová Z., Wolfová M., Krupa E., Přibyl J., Zavadilová L.

2018 ◽  
Vol 63 (No. 10) ◽  
pp. 408-418 ◽  
Author(s):  
Z. Krupová ◽  
M. Wolfová ◽  
E. Krupa ◽  
J. Přibyl ◽  
L. Zavadilová
Keyword(s):  
Feed Intake ◽  
Feed Efficiency ◽  
Disease Incidence ◽  
Selection Index ◽  
Residual Feed Intake ◽  
Selection Response ◽  
Holstein Cattle ◽  
Breeding Objective ◽  
Economic Weights ◽  
The Impact

The objective of this study was to calculate economic weights for ten current breeding objective traits and for four new traits characterising claw health and feed efficiency in Czech Holstein cattle and to investigate the impact of different selection indices on the genetic responses for these traits. Economic weights were estimated using a bio-economic model, while applying actual (2017) and predicted (2025) production and economic circumstances. For the actual situation, the economic weights of claw disease incidence were –100.1 € per case, and those of daily residual feed intake in cows, breeding heifers, and fattened animals were –79.37, –37.16, and –6.33 €/kg dry matter intake per day, respectively. In the predicted situation, the marginal economic weights for claw disease and feed efficiency traits increased on average by 38% and 20%, respectively. The new traits, claw disease incidence and daily residual feed intake, were gradually added to the 17 current Holstein selection index traits to improve the new traits. Constructing a comprehensive index with 21 traits and applying the general principles of the selection index theory, a favourable annual genetic selection response was obtained for the new traits (–0.008 cases of claw disease incidence and –0.006 kg of daily residual feed intake across all cattle categories), keeping the annual selection response of the most important current breeding objective traits at a satisfactory level (e.g., 73 kg of milk yield per lactation, 0.016% of milk fat). Claw health and feed efficiency should be defined as new breeding objectives and new selection index traits of local dairy population.

scholarly journals Prediction of residual feed intake for first-lactation dairy cows using orthogonal polynomial random regression

2013 ◽  
Vol 96 (12) ◽  
pp. 7991-8001 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Manafiazar ◽  
T. McFadden ◽  
L. Goonewardene ◽  
E. Okine ◽  
J. Basarab ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Orthogonal Polynomial ◽  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Feed Intake ◽  
Residual Feed Intake ◽  
Random Regression

Relationships between progeny residual feed intake and dam productivity traits

2007 ◽  
Vol 87 (4) ◽  
pp. 489-502 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. A. Basarab ◽  
D. McCartney ◽  
E. K. Okine ◽  
V. S. Baron
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Feed Intake ◽  
Production Efficiency ◽  
Residual Feed Intake ◽  
Backfat Thickness ◽  
Second Trimester ◽  
Gain Ratio ◽  
Weight Growth ◽  
Production Cycles ◽  
Fat Thickness

Two hundred and twenty-two yearling calves and their dams were used to examine the phenotypic (rp) relationships between progeny residual feed intake (RFI) and maternal productivity across 10 production cycles. Progeny RFI ranged from -3.95 to +2.72 kg as fed d-1 (SD = 0.94), while RFI adjusted for off-test backfat thickness (RFIadj), ranged from -2.48 to +1.53 kg as fed d-1 (SD = 0.88). Progeny RFI and RFIadj were unrelated to on-test age, body weight, growth rate, and ultrasound longissimus thoracis area and positively related to feed intake (rp = 0.51 to 0.53; P < 0.001), feed to gain ratio (rp = 0.44 to 0.46; P < 0.001), feeding behaviour traits (rp = 0.29 to 0.36; P < 0.001) and cow RFI (rp = 0.30, P < 0.05). Progeny RFI was positively related to measures of body fat (rp = 0.21 to 0.27; P < 0.05), but these relationships disappeared when RFI was adjusted for off-test backfat thickness. Cows that had produced LOW (≤ 0.5 SD), MEDIUM (± 0.5 SD) or HIGH (≥ 0.5 SD) RFIadj progeny were similar in pregnancy (95.6 vs. 95.3 vs. 96.0%, P = 0.90), calving (84.9 vs. 83.4 vs. 86.3%, P = 0.62) and weaning (81.5 vs. 80.2 vs. 82.3%, P = 0.79) rates. However, cows that produced HIGH RFIadj progeny had a higher twinning rate (3.77 vs. 0.35 vs. 0.00%, P < 0.001) and an increased calf death loss (8.06 vs. 4.24 vs. 4.02%, P = 0.10) compared with cows that produced MEDIUM or LOW RFIadj progeny. Cow body weight over 10 production cycles was similar at weaning, pre-calving and pre-breeding for dams that had produced LOW, MEDIUM and HIGH RFIadj progeny, and dams that produced LOW RFIadj progeny consistently averaged 2–3 mm more back fat thickness than dams that produced HIGH RFIadj progeny. Calf birth weight, pre-weaning ADG and 200-d weight, and cow production efficiency and calving interval were similar among dams that produced LOW, MEDIUM and HIGH RFIadj progeny. In addition, dams that produced LOW RFIadj progeny consumed less feed during their second trimester of pregnancy (10.9 vs. 11.6 vs. 12.2 kg DM d-1, P < 0.05), had lower RFI values (-0.05 vs. 0.44 vs. 1.88 kg as fed d-1, P = 0.018) and calved later in the year (96 vs. 90 vs. 91 d Julian, P < 0.001) than dams that produced MEDIUM and HIGH RFIadj progeny. These results showed that efficient RFI progeny and dams consumed less feed, had improved feed to gain ratio and spent less time in feed activity than inefficient cows and calves. In addition, cows that produced efficient calves were fatter, had fewer twins, less calf death loss and produced the same weight of calf weaned per cow exposed to breeding compared with cows that produced inefficient progeny. However, cows that produced efficient or low RFI progeny calved 5–6 d later in the year than cows that produced inefficient or high RFI progeny, indicating a need to monitor reproductive fitness in low RFI replacement heifers and breeding bulls. Key words: Residual feed intake, cow reproduction, lifetime production efficiency

scholarly journals Simultaneous Bayesian estimation of genetic parameters for curves of weight, feed intake and residual feed intake in beef cattle

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hadi Esfandyari ◽  
Just Jensen
Keyword(s):  
Feed Intake ◽  
Feed Efficiency ◽  
Genetic Parameters ◽  
Residual Feed Intake ◽  
Test Period ◽  
Random Regression ◽  
Farm Animals ◽  
Joint Analysis ◽  
Breeding Values ◽  
Covariance Functions

Abstract Rate of gain and feed efficiency are important traits in most breeding programs for growing farm animals. Rate of gain (GAIN) is usually expressed over a certain age period and feed efficiency is often expressed as residual feed intake (RFI), defined as observed feed intake (FI) minus expected feed intake based on live weight (WGT) and GAIN. However, the basic traits recorded are always WGT and FI and other traits are derived from these basic records. The aim of this study was to develop a procedure for simultaneous analysis of the basic records and then derive linear traits related to feed efficiency without retorting to any approximations. A bivariate longitudinal random regression model was employed on 13,791 individual longitudinal records of WGT and FI from 2,827 bulls of six different beef breeds tested for own performance in the period from 7 to 13 months of age. Genetic and permanent environmental covariance functions for curves of WGT and FI were estimated using Gibbs sampling. Genetic and permanent covariance functions for curves of GAIN were estimated from the first derivative of the function for WGT and finally the covariance functions were extended to curves for RFI, based on the conditional distribution of FI given WGT and GAIN. Furthermore, the covariance functions were extended to include GAIN and RFI defined over different periods of the performance test. These periods included the whole test period as normally used when predicting breeding values for GAIN and RFI for beef bulls. Based on the presented method, breeding values and genetic parameters for derived traits such as GAIN and RFI defined longitudinally or integrated over (parts of) of the test period can be obtained from a joint analysis of the basic records. The resulting covariance functions for WGT, FI, GAIN and RFI are usually singular but the method presented here do not suffer from the estimation problems associated with defining these traits individually before the genetic analysis. All results are thus estimated simultaneously, and the set of parameters are consistent.

scholarly journals Accuracy of breeding values for production traits in turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo) using recursive models with or without genomics

2021 ◽  
Vol 53 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Emhimad A. Abdalla ◽  
Benjamin J. Wood ◽  
Christine F. Baes
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Feed Intake ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Structural Equation Models ◽  
Residual Feed Intake ◽  
Equation Model ◽  
Feed Conversion ◽  
Multiple Trait ◽  
Breeding Values ◽  
Causal Structures

Abstract Background Knowledge about potential functional relationships among traits of interest offers a unique opportunity to understand causal mechanisms and to optimize breeding goals, management practices, and prediction accuracy. In this study, we inferred the phenotypic causal networks among five traits in a turkey population and assessed the effect of the use of such causal structures on the accuracy of predictions of breeding values. Methods Phenotypic data on feed conversion ratio, residual feed intake, body weight, breast meat yield, and walking score in addition to genotype data from a commercial breeding population were used. Causal links between the traits were detected using the inductive causation algorithm based on the joint distribution of genetic effects obtained from a standard Bayesian multiple trait model. Then, a structural equation model was implemented to infer the magnitude of causal structure coefficients among the phenotypes. Accuracies of predictions of breeding values derived using pedigree- and blending-based multiple trait models were compared to those obtained with the pedigree- and blending-based structural equation models. Results In contrast to the two unconditioned traits (i.e., feed conversion ratio and breast meat yield) in the causal structures, the three conditioned traits (i.e., residual feed intake, body weight, and walking score) showed noticeable changes in estimates of genetic and residual variances between the structural equation model and the multiple trait model. The analysis revealed interesting functional associations and indirect genetic effects. For example, the structural coefficient for the path from body weight to walking score indicated that a 1-unit genetic improvement in body weight is expected to result in a 0.27-unit decline in walking score. Both structural equation models outperformed their counterpart multiple trait models for the conditioned traits. Applying the causal structures led to an increase in accuracy of estimated breeding values of approximately 7, 6, and 20% for residual feed intake, body weight, and walking score, respectively, and different rankings of selection candidates for the conditioned traits. Conclusions Our results suggest that structural equation models can improve genetic selection decisions and increase the prediction accuracy of breeding values of selection candidates. The identified causal relationships between the studied traits should be carefully considered in future turkey breeding programs.

scholarly journals Selection for productivity and robustness traits in pigs

2015 ◽  
Vol 55 (12) ◽  
pp. 1437 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Hermesch ◽  
L. Li ◽  
A. B. Doeschl-Wilson ◽  
H. Gilbert
Keyword(s):  
Feed Intake ◽  
Disease Incidence ◽  
Survival Rates ◽  
Residual Feed Intake ◽  
Production Traits ◽  
Breeding Programs ◽  
Selection Strategies ◽  
Breeding Objectives ◽  
Selection For ◽  
Definition Of

Pig breeding programs worldwide continue to focus on both productivity and robustness. This selection emphasis has to be accompanied by provision of better-quality environments to pigs to improve performance and to enhance health and welfare of pigs. Definition of broader breeding objectives that include robustness traits in addition to production traits is the first step in the development of selection strategies for productivity and robustness. An approach has been presented which facilitates extension of breeding objectives. Post-weaning survival, maternal genetic effects for growth as an indicator of health status and sow mature weight are examples of robustness traits. Further, breeding objectives should be defined for commercial environments and selection indexes should account for genotype by environment interactions (GxE). Average performances of groups of pigs have been used to quantify the additive effects of multiple environmental factors on performance of pigs. For growth, GxE existed when environments differed by 60 g/day between groups of pigs. This environmental variation was observed even on well managed farms. Selection for improved health of pigs should focus on disease resistance to indirectly reduce pathogen loads on farms and on disease resilience to improve the ability of pigs to cope with infection challenges. Traits defining disease resilience may be based on performance and immune measures, disease incidence or survival rates of pigs. Residual feed intake is a trait that quantifies feed efficiency. The responses of divergent selection lines for residual feed intake to various environmental challenges were often similar or even favourable for the more efficient, low residual feed intake line. These somewhat unexpected results highlight the need to gain a better understanding of the metabolic differences between more or less productive pigs. These physiological differences lead to interactions between the genetic potential of pigs for productivity and robustness and the prevalence of specific environmental conditions.

Feed intake and efficiency in beef cattle: overview of recent Australian research and challenges for the future

2004 ◽  
Vol 44 (5) ◽  
pp. 361 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. F. Arthur ◽  
J. A. Archer ◽  
R. M. Herd
Keyword(s):  
Beef Cattle ◽  
Feed Intake ◽  
Feed Efficiency ◽  
Animal Feed ◽  
Random Regression ◽  
Individual Animal ◽  
Research Activity ◽  
The Future ◽  
Feed Utilisation ◽  
Selection For

In the last 10 years, there have been 3 major research and development projects in Australia on the efficiency of feed utilisation by beef cattle. The primary objective of these projects has been to examine individual animal variation in feed efficiency and its exploitation for genetic improvement in beef cattle. The results of these projects indicate that genetic variation in feed efficiency exists in Australian beef herds, that feed efficiency is moderately heritable and that the potential exists to reduce the cost of beef production through selection for efficient cattle. These results have been further developed for industry application through the generation of BREEDPLAN estimated breeding values for net (or residual) feed intake (a feed efficiency trait) for Angus and Hereford–Polled Hereford breeds. Although economic analyses have indicated substantial benefit from selection for feed efficiency, the high initial cost of identifying animals which are superior for feed efficiency is a barrier to rapid adoption of the technology. Developing cost-effective methods of implementing the feed efficiency technology is thus an on-going research activity. Challenges for the future include: the development and use of more sophisticated statistical analyses procedures (such as random regression) for feed intake and efficiency evaluation; development of accurate methods of assessing individual animal feed intake at pasture; the adoption of a whole-production system approach to feed utilisation; and better integration of the disciplines of genetics and nutrition. The outcomes from research in the efficiency of feed utilisation in beef cattle have wider applications, not only in other livestock species, but also in human energetics, such as the control of obesity.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document