Journal article
Hot topic: Definition and implementation of a breeding value for feed efficiency in dairy cows
JE Pryce, O Gonzalez-Recio, G Nieuwhof, WJ Wales, MP Coffey, BJ Hayes, ME Goddard
Journal of Dairy Science | Published : 2015
Abstract
A new breeding value that combines the amount of feed saved through improved metabolic efficiency with predicted maintenance requirements is described. The breeding value includes a genomic component for residual feed intake (RFI) combined with maintenance requirements calculated from either a genomic or pedigree estimated breeding value (EBV) for body weight (BW) predicted using conformation traits. Residual feed intake is only available for genotyped Holsteins; however, BW is available for all breeds. The RFI component of the "feed saved" EBV has 2 parts: Australian calf RFI and Australian lactating cow RFI. Genomic breeding values for RFI were estimated from a reference population of 2,03..
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Awarded by Scottish Government
Funding Acknowledgements
The authors thank the Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources (Melbourne, Australia), the Gardiner Foundation (Melbourne, Australia), and Dairy Futures Cooperative Research Centre (Melbourne, Australia) for funding this project. Mike Coffey acknowledges financial support from the Scottish Government (Edinburgh, UK), the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (London, UK) and DairyCo (Kenilworth, UK). Provision of genotypes and phenotypes on Dutch animals by Roel Veerkamp and Yvette de Haas (Wageningen University, the Netherlands) is gratefully acknowledged. We also thank Peter Amer (AbacusBio, Dunedin, New Zealand) and Roel Veerkamp (Wageningen University, the Netherlands) for constructive comments on this manuscript. Finally, we thank Donagh Berry (Teagasc, Ireland) for useful discussions that helped to direct our thinking in devising the feed saved breeding value.