Bibliographic Details
| Title: |
Exploring Feed Efficiency in Beef Cattle: From Data Collection to Genetic and Nutritional Modeling. |
| Authors: |
Ojo, Ayooluwa O.1 (AUTHOR) ojo0@purdue.edu, Mulim, Henrique A.1 (AUTHOR) hmulim@purdue.edu, Campos, Gabriel S.1,2 (AUTHOR) gabrielsoarescampos@hotmail.com, Junqueira, VinÃcius Silva3 (AUTHOR) viniciussilva.junqueira@bayer.com, Lemenager, Ronald P.1 (AUTHOR) rpl@purdue.edu, Schoonmaker, Jon Patrick1 (AUTHOR) jschoonm@purdue.edu, Oliveira, Hinayah Rojas1 (AUTHOR) hrojasde@purdue.edu |
| Source: |
Animals (2076-2615). Dec2024, Vol. 14 Issue 24, p3633. 35p. |
| Subject Terms: |
*SUSTAINABILITY, *BEEF cattle, *BEEF industry, *NATURAL resources, *CATTLE weight, *CATTLE feeding & feeds |
| Abstract: |
Simple Summary: As global demand for beef rises, cattle farmers face growing pressure to reduce costs, manage resources wisely, and maintain environmentally friendly practices. Feed efficiency, or the ability of cattle to gain weight while consuming less feed, has become a key solution to these challenges, as feed represents a major production cost. However, difficulties in measuring feed intake and addressing maintenance, reproduction, and productivity limit feed efficiency improvements for sustainable beef production. This paper reviews advancements in measuring and improving feed efficiency in beef cattle, from technologies that track how much individual animals eat to breeding methods that identify cattle with better genetic potential for feed efficiency. Using tools such as genomic data, scientists and producers can now predict which cattle will grow well on less feed, reducing the resources needed and lowering costs. Nutritional models are also helping producers optimize feeding strategies based on cattle needs, improving both efficiency and animal health. Combining these approaches, this review paper offers a roadmap for a more profitable and sustainable beef industry that can meet future demands without exhausting natural resources, and therefore benefiting producers and consumers. Increasing feed efficiency in beef cattle is critical for meeting the growing global demand for beef while managing rising feed costs and environmental impacts. Challenges in recording feed intake and combining genomic and nutritional models hinder improvements in feed efficiency for sustainable beef production. This review examines the progression from traditional data collection methods to modern genetic and nutritional approaches that enhance feed efficiency. We first discuss the technological advancements that allow precise measurement of individual feed intake and efficiency, providing valuable insights for research and industry. The role of genomic selection in identifying and breeding feed-efficient animals is then explored, emphasizing the benefits of combining data from multiple populations to enhance genomic prediction accuracy. Additionally, the paper highlights the importance of nutritional models that could be used synergistically with genomic selection. Together, these tools allow for optimized feed management in diverse production systems. Combining these approaches also provides a roadmap for reducing input costs and promoting a more sustainable beef industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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