Historically, pig breeding programs have focused on a limited number of traits. Often growth rate, back fat and a measure of litter size at birth were the only traits considered. Genetic relationships with other unrecorded traits were ignored in this simple approach, although selection for these traits leads to correlated responses in feed efficiency, lean meat growth, carcase characteristics, ...

The objective of this study was to identify genomic regions and metabolic pathways associated with dry matter intake, average daily gain, feed efficiency and residual feed intake in an experimental Nellore cattle population. The high-density SNP chip (Illumina High-Density Bovine BeadChip, 777k) was used to genotype the animals. The SNP markers effects and their variances were estimated using t...

An experiment was conducted to study the effects of an emulsifier (glycerol polyethylene glycol ricinoleate: GPGR) and different sources of fat on the performance of Khaki Campbell ducks. Ducks were assigned into five groups with three replicates (10 ducks/replicate) in each group. Treatments were a control diet (C1: without added oil and emulsifier), control diet added with 2% soybean oil (C2)...

an experiment was conducted to study the effects of an emulsifier (glycerol polyethylene glycol ricinoleate: gpgr) and different sources of fat on the performance of khaki campbell ducks. ducks were assigned into five groups with three replicates (10 ducks/replicate) in each group. treatments were a control diet (c1: without added oil and emulsifier), control diet added with 2% soybean oil (c2)...

Introduction Feed costs comprise the majority of variable expenses in beef cattle systems making feed efficiency an important economic consideration within the beef industry (Koch et al ., 1963; Dickerson et al ., 1974) . Aside from the direct economic impact of this trait complex at the individual producer level, the projections of global population growth provide extra pressure for efficient ...

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 wou...

Despite substantial advances in milk production efficiency of dairy cattle over the last 50 years, rising feed costs remain a significant threat to producer profitability. There also is a greater emphasis being placed on reducing the negative impacts of dairy production on the environment; thus means to lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and nutrient losses to the environment associated with ...

________________________________________________________________________________ Abstract Feed efficiency is of major economic importance in beef production. The objective of this work was to evaluate alternative measures of feed efficiency for use in genetic evaluation. To meet this objective, genetic parameters were estimated for the components of efficiency. These parameters were then used i...