Feeding Efficiency for Cattle

 It’s a human nightmare to think we have the metabolism that is efficient, meaning that very few calories, pack on the pounds. But for beef cattle, it’s a good thing and it’s called feeding efficiency.

 (Ahola) “At the U. of I. there’s a team of researchers exploring feed efficiency and this is something that’s been evaluated for decades in the animal production industry but it’s gotten renewed interest recently, part of that is because of the recent run-up in feed costs which we’ve all seen down to the retail case. Part of it also is some of the technologies newly available to measure feed intake by cattle.”

 You’re trying to find super-cow here?

 (Ahola) “Part of it is to find the best cow I guess that’s sort of the industry’s goal but in reality the main driver of our research is to figure out if we select for feed efficiency, meaning that if we find that ideal animal that is extremely feed efficient are we unintentionally selecting for or against other traits and one of the key traits we’re looking at is end product quality and in the beef business the reason that we are a more desired protein over chicken or pork or even fish is palatability.”