Exploring Feed Efficiency in Beef Cattle: From Data Collection to Genetic and Nutritional Modeling.
Ayooluwa O Ojo1, Henrique A Mulim1, Gabriel S Campos1,2
1Department of Animal Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA.
Animals : an Open Access Journal From MDPI
|January 8, 2025
Summary
Improving beef cattle feed efficiency is vital for sustainability. Modern genetic and nutritional strategies, alongside precise data collection, offer a roadmap to reduce costs and environmental impact.
Area of Science:
- Animal Science
- Agricultural Economics
- Genetics
Background:
- Increasing global beef demand necessitates enhanced feed efficiency in cattle.
- Rising feed costs and environmental concerns pose significant challenges to sustainable beef production.
- Current limitations in feed intake recording and integrated genomic-nutritional models impede progress.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review advancements in feed efficiency measurement and genetic/nutritional strategies for beef cattle.
- To explore the synergy between genomic selection, nutritional modeling, and data collection for optimized beef production.
- To provide a roadmap for cost reduction and sustainability in the beef industry.
Main Methods:
- Review of technological advancements in individual feed intake and efficiency measurement.
- Exploration of genomic selection principles and multi-population data integration for improved prediction accuracy.
- Analysis of nutritional models and their synergistic application with genomic selection.
Main Results:
- Technological progress enables precise individual feed intake monitoring, benefiting research and industry.
- Genomic selection offers a powerful tool for identifying and breeding feed-efficient cattle.
- Integrating genomic data with nutritional models optimizes feed management across diverse production systems.
Conclusions:
- Combining precise data collection, genomic selection, and nutritional modeling is key to enhancing beef cattle feed efficiency.
- These integrated approaches are crucial for reducing production costs and promoting environmental sustainability in beef farming.
- The reviewed strategies provide a clear path toward a more efficient and sustainable global beef industry.
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