AN24084Selection for growth rate at pasture in Angus cattle results in heavier cattle that eat more in the feedlot
Selection for growth rate is a powerful tool to alter beef cattle performance but the evidence for an improvement in feed efficiency is equivocal. This experiment found that selection for faster growth in Angus cattle resulted in heavier cattle that ate more in the feedlot, with no evidence of improvement in feed efficiency. Breeding programs that place emphasis on growth rate need to be cognisant of the proportional increase in feed requirement by bigger animals.
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