Characteristics of Feed Efficiency and Use for Selection of Heifers and Cows

A significant challenge facing the world today is the expected 34% increase in the human population by 2050, which will require 70% more food from existing natural and land resources (FAO, 2009). Thus, the efficiency of natural resource use must be improved to meet the food security goals for a growing population while protecting the environment (FAO, 2009). Due to their ability to utilize cellulose for production of meat, cattle can be used to produce human food from land that cannot be used to grow food crops. However, cattle have a low conversion rate of feed to meat. Therefore, considerable research has focused on nutrient use efficiency or feed efficiency in cattle.