Genetic improvement in feed efficiency in beef cattle

Net feed conversion efficiency (NFCE) describes whether an animal eats more or less feed than expected for its size and growth rate. Early results from the Trangie NFCE Project, and from the Beef CRC, show that considerable variation in NFCE exists within each of the British breeds tested and is moderately heritable. Estimates of heritability for average daily gain, 365-day weight, feed intake, net feed intake, feed conversion ratio, fat depth at the 12th/13th rib and eye muscle area are 0.41, 0.68, 0.59, 0.44, 0.31, 0.47 and 0.31 respectively. Phenotypic correlations of net feed intake with average daily gain, 36%weight and eye muscle area are non-significant, while correlations with feed intake, feed conversion ratio and rib fat depth are 0.52, 0.5 1 and 0.19. For the postweaning phase of beef production, initial results indicate that feed costs could be reduced by using cattle of above average postweaning NFCE