Author: Justin Anthony RamirezPublisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages :
Book Description
Objectives of this study were to evaluate the associations of feed intake, feeding behavior, temperament, and carcass composition with performance and feed efficiency traits in growing heifers. Santa Gertrudis heifers (n = 369) with initial BW of (275.3 ± 37.4 kg) were used in this study. Intake and feeding behavior traits were collected for 70 d using a GrowSafe system while consuming a forage-based diet (ME = 2.19 Mcal/kg DM). Heifers were weighed at 14-d intervals and ultrasound traits measured on d 0 and 70. Residual feed intake was computed by regression of DMI on mid-test BW0·75 and ADG, and heifers classified into low, medium, and high RFI (± 0.50 SD) groups. A 2- population distribution model was fit to log10-transformed non-feeding interval lengths to estimate meal criterion (MC), which was used to compute meal traits (frequency and duration). As expected, RFI was positively correlated with DMI (r = 0.72; P