Feed and production efficiency of young crossbred beef cattle stratified on a terminal total merit index.

ABSTRACT: Few studies have attempted to quantify the association between a terminal total merit index with phenotypic feed and production efficiency in beef cattle, particularly when feed efficiency is itself explicitly absent as a goal trait in the index. The objective of the present study was to quantify the differences in phenotypic performance for feed intake, feed efficiency, and carcass traits of crossbred bulls, steers, and heifers differing in a terminal total merit index. A validation population of 614 bulls, steers, and heifers that were evaluated for feed intake and efficiency in the same feedlot and subsequently slaughtered at the end of their test period was constructed. The Irish national genetic evaluations for a terminal index of calving performance, docility, feed intake, and carcas

SUBMITTER: Kelly DN 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7381835 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature