Residual feed intake is one trait cow-calf producers can take advantage, without waiting for someone else to pay for it, says Dr. John Basarab.
Basarab is a beef research scientist with Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development. He was part of a Rancher’s Research Update broadcast earlier this afternoon from Moose Jaw via dlms.ca.
Cattle with lower residual feed intakes gain as much weight as their bovine friends with less feed, making it a more economical trait straight weight gain or feed conversion. Basarab and his colleagues studied the progeny performance of three feed efficient and three feed inefficient bulls at Three Cross Ranch in Alberta. The progeny all went to the feedlot and through to the packers. The efficient bulls’ progeny saved $10 to $15 per head in feed costs, and had the same weight gain as the big eaters.