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Title: IMPACT OF SELECTION FOR FEED EFFICIENCY ON BEEF LIFE CYCLE PERFORMANCE

Author
item Williams, Charles
item Jenkins, Thomas

Submitted to: World Congress of Genetics Applied in Livestock Production
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/25/2006
Publication Date: 8/17/2006
Citation: Williams, C.B., Jenkins, T.G. 2006. Impact of selection for feed efficiency on beef life cycle performance. In: Proceedings of the 8th World Congress of Genetics Applied in Livestock Production, August 13-18, 2006, Belo Horizonte, MD Brazil, 2006 CDROM.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Production for a base herd (composite of 50% Angus and 50% Simmental) was simulated with a beef life cycle computer model over a 15-year period (BASE) and herds in which increasingly genetically superior sires for feed efficiency were introduced in years 1, 6 and 11 of a 15-year run (SECA, SECB). Sire groups in SECB had poorer reproductive traits than sire groups used in BASE and SECA. There was no difference in average daily gain between the BASE and the selected herds (SECA, SECB), but both SECA and SECB had a 10% better feed conversion than BASE in year 15. Income over feed costs was about $US6300 greater in SECA and SECB compared to BASE in year 15. Other productive and reproductive traits were similar between the three herds. These results show that selection for feed efficiency would decrease feed costs without affecting growth traits.