Considerations for Improving Feed Efficiency in Dairy Cattle
نویسندگان
چکیده
Intensive selection of sires is possible by using artificial insemination; coupled with accurate measurement of a potential sire’s genetic value, this has markedly improved genetics for easily measured traits like milk production and type traits. Increased milk production has in turn increased gross feed efficiency through dilution of maintenance. Additional genetic gains in feed efficiency would likely be possible if feed efficiency phenotypes were widely available, but this data is virtually impossible to collect in the field, especially for cows fed in groups. Genomic information may make a more limited (but still large) data set of phenotypes useful in identifying sires capable of transmitting improved feed efficiency (Connor et al., 2012) .
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