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Evaluation of test duration for feed efficiency in growing beef cattle

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Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the shortest test duration necessary for the evaluation of feed efficiency traits, i.e., dry matter intake (DMI), average daily gain (ADG), mid-test metabolic body weight, residual feed intake (RFI), feed conversion ratio (DMI/ADG), and feed conversion efficiency (ADG/DMI). A total of 313 Nellore bulls with an initial age of 283 ± 23.6 days were evaluated by automated feed intake measurement. The tests were divided into six durations (15, 29, 43, 57, 71, and 84 days), with at least one body weight recording at the beginning and one at the end of each period. Residual variances were estimated per period and correlation coefficients (Pearson and Spearman) were calculated between the 5 test durations and the 84-day test. The results indicated a minimum test duration of 15 days (two weight recordings without fasting) for the measurement of mid-test metabolic body weight, a minimum of 43 days for automated DMI measurement, and a minimum of 71 days for the determination of ADG, RFI, feed conversion ratio, and feed conversion efficiency. Individual analysis of the DMI records obtained with the GrowSafe® and Intergado® automated feeders showed that a test duration of 57 days is sufficient for measurement of this trait. We therefore recommend a test duration of 71 days after a minimum adaptation period of 21 days for the determination of feed efficiency in growing Nellore cattle, with weight recordings without fasting every 15 days.

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Funding

This work was financially supported by the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq; Grants 562783/2010-5 and 301918/2017-1) and Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP; Grant 2010/52201-1). FAPESP also granted post-doctoral scholarship to L.S. Sakamoto (Grant 2018/17313-5).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centro Avançado de Pesquisa de Bovinos de Corte, Instituto de Zootecnia (IZ), Sertãozinho, SP, Brazil

    Milena Zigart Marzocchi, Leandro Sannomiya Sakamoto, Roberta Carrilho Canesin, Joslaine dos Santos Gonçalves Cyrillo & Maria Eugênia Zerlotti Mercadante

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  1. Milena Zigart Marzocchi
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  2. Leandro Sannomiya Sakamoto
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  3. Roberta Carrilho Canesin
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  4. Joslaine dos Santos Gonçalves Cyrillo
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  5. Maria Eugênia Zerlotti Mercadante
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Correspondence to Maria Eugênia Zerlotti Mercadante.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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All procedures were conducted in accordance with animal welfare guidelines according to State Law No. 11.977 of the State of São Paulo, Brazil.

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Marzocchi, M.Z., Sakamoto, L.S., Canesin, R.C. et al. Evaluation of test duration for feed efficiency in growing beef cattle. Trop Anim Health Prod 52, 1533–1539 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-019-02161-0

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