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Digestibility contributes to between-animal variation in feed efficiency in beef cows
A De La Torre1, D Andueza1, G Renand2
1Université Clermont Auvergne, National Institute for Agricultural Research (INRA), VetAgro Sup, UMR Herbivores, F-63122 Saint-Genès-Champanelle, France.
Animal : an International Journal of Animal Bioscience
|June 15, 2019
Summary
Beef cows with lower residual feed intake (RFI) exhibit superior digestive ability, indicating that digestibility is a key factor in feed efficiency (FE) variation. This study highlights digestive traits as important for understanding FE in beef cattle.
Area of Science:
- Animal Science
- Nutritional Physiology
- Beef Cattle Production
Background:
- Feed efficiency (FE) variation in beef cattle is not fully understood biologically.
- Residual Feed Intake (RFI) is a measure of FE, calculated as the difference between actual and expected feed intake.
- Investigating digestive ability can elucidate mechanisms of FE variation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the digestive ability of beef cows divergently selected for RFI.
- To compare digestive traits between high-RFI and low-RFI beef cows using contrasting diets.
- To determine the contribution of apparent digestibility to FE variation in beef cows.
Main Methods:
- Selected 15 four-year-old beef cows (7 low-RFI, 8 high-RFI) based on heifer feedlot RFI.
- Conducted digestibility trials with two diets: 100% hay and a fattening diet (maize silage and concentrate).
- Measured dry matter intake (DMI) and apparent digestibility of organic matter (OMd) over four experimental periods.
Main Results:
- A significant diet effect was observed; intake and apparent digestibility were higher with the fattening diet compared to the hay diet.
- Low-RFI cows demonstrated significantly higher dry matter and organic matter apparent digestibility than high-RFI cows.
- DMI and OMd were repeatable across measurement periods and positively correlated between diets, indicating consistent digestive performance.
Conclusions:
- Apparent digestibility is a significant factor contributing to the variation in feed efficiency among individual beef cows.
- Low-RFI beef cows possess enhanced digestive capabilities compared to high-RFI cows.
- Understanding digestive traits can aid in breeding programs to improve feed efficiency in beef cattle.
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