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Residual feed intake: a nutritional tool for genetic improvement
Leilson Rocha Bezerra1, José Lindenberg Rocha Sarmento, Severino Gonzaga Neto
1Department of Zootecnia, Federal University of Piauí, BR 135, Km 03, Bairro Planalto Horizonte, Bom Jesus, Piauí State, Brazil, 6490000, leilson@ufpi.edu.br.
Tropical Animal Health and Production
|November 1, 2013
Summary
Residual Feed Intake (RFI) offers significant benefits for beef cattle selection by improving nutritional efficiency over traditional growth rate goals. This method may enhance livestock production and economic development.
Area of Science:
- Animal Science
- Genetics
- Agricultural Economics
Background:
- Residual Feed Intake (RFI) is an emerging criterion for beef cattle selection.
- RFI quantifies feed efficiency by comparing actual vs. expected intake.
- Concerns exist regarding RFI's reliability among researchers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review and provide information on Residual Feed Intake (RFI) in beef cattle.
- To assess RFI's potential as a selection criterion for improved feed efficiency.
- To discuss the implications of RFI for livestock improvement and economic development.
Main Methods:
- Bibliographical study.
- Analysis of genetic correlations related to feed intake and efficiency.
- Comparison of RFI with traditional selection criteria like feed conversion.
Main Results:
- RFI shows high genetic correlation with post-weaning and maturity traits.
- Biological processes regulating intake and efficiency are consistent across ages.
- Selection via RFI promotes lower consumption and maintenance requirements without affecting adult weight or gain.
Conclusions:
- Shifting selection goals from weight gain to nutritional efficiency offers substantial benefits.
- RFI presents a promising index for feed efficiency in livestock improvement.
- Economic implementation of RFI is crucial for its adoption in Brazilian animal production.
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