10
FEED EFFICIENCY
Breeding programs for many years have been driven by the ability to enhance
genetic output of economically relevant traits such as growth and carcass
quality. The primary reason being these are the traits that establish sale value
and are the easiest to measure. However, an accurate and honest evaluation of
feed inputs relative to observed output is another avenue that can have a
beneficial impact of the financial earing sector for beef producers. Feed costs
represent the majority of input expense in beef production representing
approximately 66% and 77% of the input dollars associated with body weight
gain and yearling finishing systems, respectively.
Efficiency is defined as a ratio of output per unit of input, and in the case of
beef cattle, feed efficiency is the measure of how much product being produced
per unit of feed consumed and is related to profitability. With this, feed
efficiency can be considered an economically relevant trait as selection for
favored feed efficiency will directly reduce feed inputs, thus potentially
increasing profits.
What Feed Efficiency Measures should I select for?
Average Daily Gain (ADG):
Not parse a feed efficiency measure, yet a
performance measure. This represents the weight gain over the test period,
animal performance. Higher value being more preferred meaning faster
growth rates. For example, if a bull weighs 1,000 pounds on January 1 and
weighs 1,100 pounds on February 1 of the same year, then he gained
100pounds in 31 days. Divide 100 pounds by 31 days, and the ADG is 3.2
pounds per day.
Feed to Gain Ratio (F:G):
This is calculated by taking the dry matter intake of
the animal divided by its average daily gain on test. F:G is applicable in that it
is a gross estimate of feed efficiency. The feed input compared to the output,
weight gain, results in a ratio to somewhat capture individual performance and
efficiency. Lower value is more preferred, meaning it took less feed to
accomplish higher weight gains. For example, if a bull ate 18 pounds of feed
per day on a dry matter basis, and gained 3 pounds per day, his F:G would be
18 divided by 3 = 6 pounds of feed per 1 pound of gain.
