Genetic parameter estimation of postweaning gain, feed intake, and feed efficiency for Hereford and Angus bulls fed...

Postweaning gain performance and individual feed intake on 271 Hereford and 263 Angus bulls were recorded during three 168-d test periods from 1984 to 1986. Each breed was composed of two lines and within each breed bulls were fed either a high-energy (HD) or a medium-energy (MD) diet. Energy intake was partitioned into energy for maintenance and growth based on predicted individual animal requirements. Estimates of heritability were obtained using Restricted Maximum Likelihood with an individual animal model including fixed effects of year, diet, and covariates of initial weight and backfat change by breed and with line effects for overall data. Bulls fed the HD grew faster and had higher metabolizable energy intake per day (MEI), residual feed consumption (RFC), and gross and net feed efficiency (FE and NFE) (P < .001) than those fed the MD. Estimates of heritability for Hereford and Angus bulls, respectively, were .46 and .16 for 200-d weaning weight (WWT), .16 and .43 for average daily gain (ADG), .19 and .31 for intake per day (MEI), .43 and .45 for yearling weight (YWT), .07 and .23 for RFC, .08 and .35 for FE, and .14 and .28 for NFE. Genetic and phenotypic correlations between MEI and ADG, MEI and YWT, ADG and YWT, ADG and FE, YWT and FE, and FE and NFE were moderately to highly positive for both breeds. Negative genetic and phenotypic correlations between NFE and ADG show partial correlations of FE with ADG after accounting for energy requirement for maintenance. Residual feed consumption was negatively associated with YWT, FE, and NFE, indicating a possible genetic improvement.