The repeatability of feed intake and feed efficiency in beef cattle offered high-concentrate, grass silage and pasture-based diets
Breeding values for feed intake and feed efficiency in beef cattle are generally derived indoors on high-concentrate (HC) diets. Within temperate regions of north-western Europe, however, the majority of a growing beef animal’s lifetime dietary intake comes from grazed grass and grass silage. Using...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2020-01-01
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| Series: | Animal |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1751731120000853 |
| _version_ | 1819100475821129728 |
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| author | B. Lahart R. Prendiville F. Buckley E. Kennedy S.B. Conroy T.M. Boland M. McGee |
| author_facet | B. Lahart R. Prendiville F. Buckley E. Kennedy S.B. Conroy T.M. Boland M. McGee |
| author_sort | B. Lahart |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Breeding values for feed intake and feed efficiency in beef cattle are generally derived indoors on high-concentrate (HC) diets. Within temperate regions of north-western Europe, however, the majority of a growing beef animal’s lifetime dietary intake comes from grazed grass and grass silage. Using 97 growing beef cattle, the objective of the current study was to assess the repeatability of both feed intake and feed efficiency across 3 successive dietary test periods comprising grass silage plus concentrates (S+C), grazed grass (GRZ) and a HC diet. Individual DM intake (DMI), DMI/kg BW and feed efficiency-related parameters, residual feed intake (RFI) and gain to feed ratio (G : F) were assessed. There was a significant correlation for DMI between the S+C and GRZ periods (r = 0.32; P < 0.01) as well as between the S+C and HC periods (r = 0.41; P < 0.001), whereas there was no association for DMI between the GRZ and HC periods. There was a significant correlation for DMI/kg BW between the S+C and GRZ periods (r = 0.33; P < 0.01) and between the S+C and HC periods (r = 0.40; P < 0.001), but there was no association for the trait between the GRZ and HC periods. There was a significant correlation for RFI between the S+C and GRZ periods (r = 0.25; P < 0.05) as well as between S+C and HC periods (r = 0.25; P < 0.05), whereas there was no association for RFI between the GRZ and HC periods. Gain to feed ratio was not correlated between any of the test periods. A secondary aspect of the study demonstrated that traits recorded in the GRZ period relating to grazing bite rate, the number of daily grazing bouts and ruminating bouts were associated with DMI (r = 0.28 to 0.42; P < 0.05 - 0.001), DMI/kg BW (r = 0.36 to 0.45; P < 0.01 - 0.001) and RFI (r = 0.31 to 0.42; P < 0.05 - 0.001). Additionally, the number of ruminating boli produced per day and per ruminating bout were associated with G : F (r = 0.28 and 0.26, respectively; P < 0.05). Results from this study demonstrate that evaluating animals for both feed intake and feed efficiency indoors on HC diets may not reflect their phenotypic performance when consuming conserved forage-based diets indoors or when grazing pasture. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-22T01:03:22Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a906169dedd14b499255c0787107e04c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1751-7311 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-22T01:03:22Z |
| publishDate | 2020-01-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
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| spelling | doaj.art-a906169dedd14b499255c0787107e04c2022-12-21T18:44:09ZengElsevierAnimal1751-73112020-01-01141122882297The repeatability of feed intake and feed efficiency in beef cattle offered high-concentrate, grass silage and pasture-based dietsB. Lahart0R. Prendiville1F. Buckley2E. Kennedy3S.B. Conroy4T.M. Boland5M. McGee6Animal Bioscience Department, Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Teagasc, Moorepark, Fermoy, Co. Cork, P61 P302, Ireland; School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin-4 D04 V1W8, IrelandLivestock Systems Research Department, Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Teagasc, Grange, Dunsany, Co. Meath, C15 PW93, IrelandAnimal Bioscience Department, Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Teagasc, Moorepark, Fermoy, Co. Cork, P61 P302, IrelandGrassland Science Department, Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Teagasc, Moorepark, Fermoy, Co. Cork, P61 P302, IrelandIrish Cattle Breeding Federation, Highfield House, Shinagh, Bandon P72 X050, Co. Cork, IrelandSchool of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin-4 D04 V1W8, IrelandLivestock Systems Research Department, Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Teagasc, Grange, Dunsany, Co. Meath, C15 PW93, IrelandBreeding values for feed intake and feed efficiency in beef cattle are generally derived indoors on high-concentrate (HC) diets. Within temperate regions of north-western Europe, however, the majority of a growing beef animal’s lifetime dietary intake comes from grazed grass and grass silage. Using 97 growing beef cattle, the objective of the current study was to assess the repeatability of both feed intake and feed efficiency across 3 successive dietary test periods comprising grass silage plus concentrates (S+C), grazed grass (GRZ) and a HC diet. Individual DM intake (DMI), DMI/kg BW and feed efficiency-related parameters, residual feed intake (RFI) and gain to feed ratio (G : F) were assessed. There was a significant correlation for DMI between the S+C and GRZ periods (r = 0.32; P < 0.01) as well as between the S+C and HC periods (r = 0.41; P < 0.001), whereas there was no association for DMI between the GRZ and HC periods. There was a significant correlation for DMI/kg BW between the S+C and GRZ periods (r = 0.33; P < 0.01) and between the S+C and HC periods (r = 0.40; P < 0.001), but there was no association for the trait between the GRZ and HC periods. There was a significant correlation for RFI between the S+C and GRZ periods (r = 0.25; P < 0.05) as well as between S+C and HC periods (r = 0.25; P < 0.05), whereas there was no association for RFI between the GRZ and HC periods. Gain to feed ratio was not correlated between any of the test periods. A secondary aspect of the study demonstrated that traits recorded in the GRZ period relating to grazing bite rate, the number of daily grazing bouts and ruminating bouts were associated with DMI (r = 0.28 to 0.42; P < 0.05 - 0.001), DMI/kg BW (r = 0.36 to 0.45; P < 0.01 - 0.001) and RFI (r = 0.31 to 0.42; P < 0.05 - 0.001). Additionally, the number of ruminating boli produced per day and per ruminating bout were associated with G : F (r = 0.28 and 0.26, respectively; P < 0.05). Results from this study demonstrate that evaluating animals for both feed intake and feed efficiency indoors on HC diets may not reflect their phenotypic performance when consuming conserved forage-based diets indoors or when grazing pasture.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1751731120000853beef cattlefeed efficiencyre-rankingingestive behaviourherbage intake |
| spellingShingle | B. Lahart R. Prendiville F. Buckley E. Kennedy S.B. Conroy T.M. Boland M. McGee The repeatability of feed intake and feed efficiency in beef cattle offered high-concentrate, grass silage and pasture-based diets Animal beef cattle feed efficiency re-ranking ingestive behaviour herbage intake |
| title | The repeatability of feed intake and feed efficiency in beef cattle offered high-concentrate, grass silage and pasture-based diets |
| title_full | The repeatability of feed intake and feed efficiency in beef cattle offered high-concentrate, grass silage and pasture-based diets |
| title_fullStr | The repeatability of feed intake and feed efficiency in beef cattle offered high-concentrate, grass silage and pasture-based diets |
| title_full_unstemmed | The repeatability of feed intake and feed efficiency in beef cattle offered high-concentrate, grass silage and pasture-based diets |
| title_short | The repeatability of feed intake and feed efficiency in beef cattle offered high-concentrate, grass silage and pasture-based diets |
| title_sort | repeatability of feed intake and feed efficiency in beef cattle offered high concentrate grass silage and pasture based diets |
| topic | beef cattle feed efficiency re-ranking ingestive behaviour herbage intake |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1751731120000853 |
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