Redefining residual feed intake to account for marbling fat in beef breeding programs
C. J. Duff
A B C , J. H. J. van der Werf B , P. F. Parnell A and S. A. Clark B
A Angus Australia, 86 Glen Innes Road, Armidale, NSW 2350, Australia.
B School of Environmental and Rural Science, University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia.
C Corresponding author. Email: christian@angusaustralia.com.au
Animal Production Science - https://doi.org/10.1071/AN21107
Submitted: 27 February 2021 Accepted: 27 May 2021 Published online: 21 July 2021
Journal Compilation © CSIRO 2021 Open Access CC BY-NC-ND
Abstract
Context: Improving meat quality traits such as marbling is a well established breeding objective for many beef producers. More recently, the inclusion of feed efficiency is being considered. The main driving factors being the direct feed cost, as well as consumer concerns related to environmental sustainability of beef production.
Aims: The main aim of this study was to examine modifying the definition of residual feed intake (RFI), by including an adjustment for intramuscular fat (IMF). The secondary aim was to further understand the genetic relationships between feed intake and a range of carcass traits.
Methods: Using a population of 4034 Australian Angus animals, feed intake and carcass traits, along with pedigree and fixed effects, were analysed. This included the calculation of three definitions of RFI, being the standard definition, accounting for average daily gain and metabolic mid-weight, and two amended versions accounting for ultrasound IMF (RFIu), or carcass IMF (RFIi). Variance components, heritabilities, and genetic and phenotypic correlations were estimated and compared.
Key results: All three definitions of RFI were moderately heritable (0.30–0.32) and highly correlated, both genetically (0.99) and phenotypically (0.99). Unfavourable genetic correlations were observed between RFI and carcass IMF (CIMF), and between RFIu and CIMF at 0.29 and 0.24 respectively. Similarly, there were unfavourable genetic correlations between RFI and ultrasound IMF (UIMF), between RFIi and UIMF, and between RFIu and UIMF at 0.30, 0,21 and 0.23 respectively.
Conclusions: RFI can be redefined to account for traits, other than average daily gain and metabolic mid-weight, such as IMF. However due to limitations of phenotypic linear regression, and only small amounts of variation in feed intake being explained by the IMF traits, the redefinition of RFI was a suboptimal approach to breeding candidate selection. Furthermore, the present study confirmed the challenges with selecting for both feed efficiency and meat quality traits as they are generally genetically antagonist.
Implications: For beef cattle breeding programs, the investigation of alternative selection approaches is warranted. This may include further understanding the genetic correlations among traits in the breeding objective and, according to their economic value, optimally weighting the related estimated breeding value.
Keywords: Angus, cattle, residual feed intake, intramuscular fat, marbling, genetic parameters.
References
Archer JA, Richardson EC, Herd RM, Arthur PF (1999) Potential for selection to improve efficiency of feed use in beef cattle: a review. Crop and Pasture Science 50, 147–162.| Potential for selection to improve efficiency of feed use in beef cattle: a review.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Arthur PF, Archer JA, Johnston DJ, Herd RM, Richardson EC, Parnell PF (2001) Genetic and phenotypic variance and covariance components for feed intake, feed efficiency, and other postweaning traits in Angus cattle. Journal of Animal Science 79, 2805–2811.
| Genetic and phenotypic variance and covariance components for feed intake, feed efficiency, and other postweaning traits in Angus cattle.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 11768108PubMed |
AUS-MEAT (2020) ‘Handbook of Australian Beef Processing. Version 7.’ (AUS-MEAT: Murarrie, Qld, Australia) Available at https://www.ausmeat.com.au/WebDocuments/Producer_HAP_Beef_Small.pdf [Verified 27 February 2021]
Basarab JA, Colazo MG, Ambrose DJ, Novak S, McCartney D, Baron VS (2011) Residual feed intake adjusted for backfat thickness and feeding frequency is independent of fertility in beef heifers Canadian Journal of Animal Science 91, 573–584.
| Residual feed intake adjusted for backfat thickness and feeding frequency is independent of fertility in beef heifersCrossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Börner V, Johnston DJ, Graser HU (2013) Genetic relationships between live animal scan traits and carcass traits of Australian Angus bulls and heifers. Animal Production Science 53, 1075–1082.
| Genetic relationships between live animal scan traits and carcass traits of Australian Angus bulls and heifers.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Duff CJ, van der Werf JHJ, Parnell PF, Clark SA (2021) Comparison of two live-animal ultrasound systems for genetic evaluation of carcass traits in Angus cattle. Translational Animal Science 5,
| Comparison of two live-animal ultrasound systems for genetic evaluation of carcass traits in Angus cattle.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 33748681PubMed |
Gilmour AR, Gogel BJ, Cullis BR, Thompson R (2009) ‘ASReml user guide release 3.0.’ (VSN International: Hemel Hempstead, UK)
Herd RM, Oddy VH, Richardson EC (2004) Biological basis for variation in residual feed intake in beef cattle. 1. Review of potential mechanisms. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 44, 423–430.
| Biological basis for variation in residual feed intake in beef cattle. 1. Review of potential mechanisms.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Jeyaruban MG, Johnston DJ, Walmsley BJ (2017) Genetic and phenotypic characterization of MSA Index and its association with carcass and meat quality traits in Angus and Brahman cattle. Proceedings of the Association for the Advancement of Animal Breeding and Genetics 22, 313–316.
Kelly DN, Murphy C, Sleator RD, Judge MM, Conroy SB, Berry DP (2019) Feed efficiency and carcass metrics in growing cattle 1. Journal of Animal Science 97, 4405–4417.
| Feed efficiency and carcass metrics in growing cattle 1.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 31593986PubMed |
Meat and Livestock Australia (2020) Consumer sentiment research: Australian perceptions about the red meat industry. Available at https://www.mla.com.au/marketing-beef-and-lamb/consumer-sentiment-research/ [Verified 27 February 2021]
Moraes GFD, Abreu LRA, Ferreira IC, Pereira IG (2017) Genetic analysis of residual feed intake adjusted for fat and carcass and performance traits in a Nellore herd. Ciência Rural 47, 20151505
| Genetic analysis of residual feed intake adjusted for fat and carcass and performance traits in a Nellore herd.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Parnell PF, Duff CJ, Byrne AI, Butcher NM (2019) The Angus Sire Benchmarking Program: a major contributor to future genetic improvement in the Australian beef industry. Proceedings of the Association for the Advancement of Animal Breeding and Genetics 23, 492–495.
Perry D, Shorthose WR, Ferguson DM, Thompson JM (2001) Methods used in the CRC program for the determination of carcass yield and beef quality. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 41, 953–957.
| Methods used in the CRC program for the determination of carcass yield and beef quality.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Polkinghorne R, Thompson JM, Watson R, Gee A, Porter M (2008) Evolution of the Meat Standards Australia (MSA) beef grading system. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 48, 1351–1359.
| Evolution of the Meat Standards Australia (MSA) beef grading system.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Reverter A, Johnston DJ, Graser HU, Wolcott ML, Upton WH (2000) Genetic analyses of live-animal ultrasound and abattoir carcass traits in Australian Angus and Hereford cattle. Journal of Animal Science 78, 1786–1795.
| Genetic analyses of live-animal ultrasound and abattoir carcass traits in Australian Angus and Hereford cattle.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 10907820PubMed |
Reverter A, Johnston DJ, Ferguson DM, Perry D, Goddard ME, Burrow HM, Oddy VH, Thompson JM, Bindon BM (2003) Genetic and phenotypic characterisation of animal, carcass, and meat quality traits from temperate and tropically adapted beef breeds. 4. Correlations among animal, carcass, and meat quality traits. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 54, 149–158.
| Genetic and phenotypic characterisation of animal, carcass, and meat quality traits from temperate and tropically adapted beef breeds. 4. Correlations among animal, carcass, and meat quality traits.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Robinson DL, Oddy VH (2004) Genetic parameters for feed efficiency, fatness, muscle area and feeding behaviour of feedlot finished beef cattle. Livestock Production Science 90, 255–270.
| Genetic parameters for feed efficiency, fatness, muscle area and feeding behaviour of feedlot finished beef cattle.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Torres-Vázquez JA, van der Werf JHJ, Clark SA (2018) Genetic and phenotypic associations of feed efficiency with growth and carcass traits in Australian Angus cattle.1. Journal of Animal Science 96, 4521–4531.
| Genetic and phenotypic associations of feed efficiency with growth and carcass traits in Australian Angus cattle.1.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 30124864PubMed |
Upton WH, Donoghue KA, Graser HU, Johnston DJ (1999) Ultrasound proficiency testing. Proceedings of the Association for the Advancement of Animal Breeding and Genetics 13, 341–344.
