IGENITY® — Feed Efficiency
IGENITY offers analyses for residual feed intake (RFI) for both Bos taurus and Bos indicus breeds of cattle. These are in addition to the only DNA analysis available for average daily gain (ADG).
The most thoroughly researched, predictive and powerful feed efficiency-related analyses available.1-3
The RFI analyses from IGENITY have been independently researched in the United States, Canada and Australia, and are third-party validated. An independently conducted study at the University of Guelph proved the analysis for RFI from IGENITY for Bos taurus cattle is highly predictive of an animal's genetic potential for this trait.1,2 Only the RFI analysis from IGENITY for Bos indicus cattle has been proven to accurately predict feed efficiency in this type of cattle.1,2
Only IGENITY analyzes RFI and ADG.
Reporting results for two interrelated feed efficiency and growth factors — and reporting them independently — helps producers make more confident breeding, feeding and management decisions.
RFI, also called net feed efficiency, describes how an animal's feed intake differs from its expected feed intake based on its maintenance and growth requirements.4 Low RFI is more desirable than high RFI, since a low-RFI animal will either eat less with the same gains or gain more from the same amount of feed. Analyses from IGENITY are reported as a series of scores on a scale of 1 to 10. Below is an example of how scores for RFI is reported.
| Score |
Residual Feed Intake |
| 1 |
Less intake for growth and maintenance |
| 5 |
Intermediate intake for growth and maintenance |
| 10 |
High intake for growth and maintenance |
ADG helps predict how fast an animal will gain weight. Since approximately 93 percent of the variability in the cost of gain can be explained by corn price, feed conversion and average daily gain,5 ADG is critical to predicting profitability.
Make more confident selection and management decisions
These feed efficiency- and growth-related analyses will help producers identify breeding cattle that will be more efficient as young animals and as older animals. This helps identify animals that will produce efficient progeny, while maintaining an acceptable body condition score — without negatively affecting fertility. It also provides information that feedyard managers can use to help purchase and manage cattle that will be more efficient and gain faster during the feeding phase.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Analyses Related to Feed Efficiency and Growth from IGENITY
| Q: |
Are either RFI or ADG more important when evaluating feed efficiency? |
| A: |
RFI is the most powerful predictor of an animal's ability to convert feed efficiently because it takes into account the animal's maintenance and growth requirements. However, the ability to evaluate animals for both RFI and ADG is a powerful opportunity for producers in all segments. An efficient animal is only valuable, and profitable, if they also perform or grow, which is why it is important that producers consider both analyses. And, IGENITY is the only tool available for producers to evaluate cattle for both of these traits early in every stage of production.1 |
| Q: |
Will selecting for RFI with the analyses from IGENITY negatively impact carcass quality or reproduction in my herd? |
| A: |
No research has shown that there is no significant relationship between the feed efficiency analyses and any of the carcass quality or maternal traits analyses from IGENITY.1 |
| Q: |
Why is it important to have separate analysis for Bos indicus and Bos taurus breeds? Which one should producers use who have crossbred cattle that include both breed types? |
| A: |
IGENITY is the only DNA technology provider that offers separate analyses for RFI for both Bos incidus and Bos taurus cattle. These are complex traits, and enough differences have been found between the two groups that it is important to offer separate analyses for both breed types. If producers have crossbred cattle that include both Bos indicus and Bos taurus breeds, they should use the analysis for Bos indicus cattle |
| Q: |
Which breeds are considered Bos indicus and Bos taurus? |
| A: |
Bos indicus breeds are the eared, or Brahman-type, cattle. Bos taurus breeds are the English and continental breeds such as Angus, Hereford, Simmental and Gelbvieh. |
1Data on file at Merial.
2National Beef Cattle Evaluation Consortium Web site. Available at: http://www.nbcec.org/nbcec/index.html. Accessed February 22, 2009.
3Technical Summary. Pfizer Animal Genetics Web site. Available at: http://www.pfizeranimalgenetics.com/pdf/US%20External%20Tech%20Summary%203-6-09.pdf. Accessed April 6, 2009.
4Carstens GE, Tedeschi LO. Defining feed efficiency in beef cattle. Presentation at Beef Improvement Federation Conference. 2006. Available at: http://www.bifconference.com/bif2006/pdfs/Carstens.pdf. Accessed February 23, 2009.
5Albright ML, et al. Factors affecting cattle feeding profitability and cost of gain. Beef Cattle Handbook BCH-8050.
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