Genetic variability in the feeding behavior of crossbred growing cattle and associations with performance and feed efficiency.

ABSTRACT: The objectives of the present study were to estimate genetic parameters for several feeding behavior traits in growing cattle, as well as the genetic associations among and between feeding behavior and both performance and feed efficiency traits. An additional objective was to investigate the use of feeding behavior traits as predictors of genetic merit for feed intake. Feed intake and live-weight data on 6,088 growing cattle were used of which 4,672 had ultrasound data and 1,548 had feeding behavior data. Feeding behavior traits were defined based on individual feed events or meal events (where individual feed events were grouped into meals). Univariate and bivariate animal linear mixed models were used to estimate (co)variance components. Heritability estimates (± SE) for the feeding beh

SUBMITTER: Kelly DN 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8679004 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature