Feed Efficiency
This is our fourth year of testing bulls for individual feed intake and the first year with individuals that were sired by bulls that tested very well in past years for feed efficiency (and RFI). The results are very interesting.
Important information to know before we get to the results:
We tested 33 bulls for individual feed efficiency.
The test was conducted from January 16 – March 12, 2024 (we calve in May).
The Residual Feed Intake (RFI) was calculated by C-Lock Inc.
The bulls were fed a growing ration, not a high energy finishing ration (balanced for 50 Mcal/cwt NE gain).
The average start weight was 690 lbs and the average ending weight was 889 lbs.
Here are the results:
1) The bull with the lowest ADG gained 2.45 lbs/day. The bull with the highest ADG gained 4.64 lbs/day. The pen averaged 3.57 lbs/day.
2) The bull that ate the least amount of feed ate 12.76 lbs/day (all weights of feed are on a dry matter basis). This bull ate 1.78% of his body weight per day. The bull that ate the most amount of feed ate 22.87 lbs/day. This bull ate 2.54% of his body weight per day.
The bull that ate the least amount of feed based on his body weight ate 1.78% of his body weight. The bull that ate the most amount of feed based on his body weight ate 2.97% of his body weight. The pen averaged eating 19.38 pounds per day and averaged eating 2.46% of their body weight.
3) The bull with the best feed:gain ratio was 4.55:1. The bull with the poorest feed:gain ratio was 7.37:1. The pen averaged 5.50:1.
Saskvalley Halo 140H was the top residual feed intake (RFI) bull tested in 2021. Saskvalley Jangle 220J had the second best RFI of the bulls tested in 2022. Both of these 2 individuals were used in the 2022 breeding season. The resulting progeny were born in 2023 and tested for feed efficiency in 2024. We had four breeding fields of mature cows in 2022. 140H and 220J in 2 of the fields and 2 older bulls that had not been tested for feed efficiency in the other 2 fields.
WHEN RANKED FOR RFI, 140H AND 220J SONS OCCUPIED 7 OF THE TOP 8 SPOTS IN THIS YEAR’S TEST.
This data on its own is not enough for me to hang my hat on. We have only been testing bulls for 4 years so even the entire set of data that we have generated is not enough to convince me that this is heritable, and thus will result in an improvement in our cowherd. But this data, combined with information gathered from talking to other producers that have be doing these feed trials for longer than we have, reading lots of research papers, and listening to lots of seminars, has convinced me of its merit. We are able to identify more feed efficient animals. Therefore we are able to select breeding stock that will make our cow herd more feed efficient and us more profitable.
We also tested pregnant commercial yearling heifers last fall. The average weight for the pen was about 1100 lbs. The feed intakes ranged from 18.4 – 32.5 lbs/day and averaged 27.2 lbs/day. When expressed as a percentage of body weight, intakes ranged from 1.85 – 3.11 % of body weight and averaged 2.48%. We now also have the ability to identify females that are more feed efficient as well.
I believe that testing for individual animal intake is good for the beef industry. I would like to see every bull of every breed tested.
If you would like to discuss any of the above data or opinions please phone me at 306-212-0240.
If you would like to review the condensed set of data, or the entire set of data, feel free to
email me at barrylehmann15@gmail.com