Abstract
The aim of the present study was to use different models that include body composition phenotypes for the evaluation of residual feed intake (RFI) in Nellore bulls of different ages. Phenotypic and genotypic data of bulls that had participated in feed efficiency tests of a commercial (COM) and an experimental (EXP) herd between 2007 and 2019 were used. The mean entry age in the two herds was 645 and 279 days, respectively. The phenotypes were evaluated: rib eye area (REA), backfat thickness (BFT), residual feed intake (RFIKOCH), RFI adjusted for REA (RFIREA), RFI adjusted for BFT (RFIBFT), and RFI adjusted for REA and BFT (RFIREA BFT). The (co)variance components and prediction of genomic estimated breeding values (GEBV) were obtained by REML using ssGBLUP in single and two-trait analyses. Spearman’s correlations were calculated based on the GEBV for RFIKOCH. The RFI phenotypes exhibited moderate heritability estimates in both herds (0.17 ± 0.03 to 0.27 ± 0.04). The genetic correlation between phenotypes was positive and high (0.99) in the two herds, a fact that permitted the creation of a single database (SDB). The heritability estimates of the SDB were also of moderate magnitude for the different definitions of RFI (0.19 ± 0.04 to 0.21 ± 0.04). The genetic correlations were positive and high between RFI traits 0.97 ± 0.01 to 0.99 ± 0.01), and positive and low/moderate between REA and BFT (0.01 ± 0.10 to 0.31 ± 0.12). The selection of animals based on the GEBV for RFIKOCH did not alter the ranking of individuals selected for RFIREA, RFIBFT, and RFIREA BFT. The results of the present study suggest that records of Nellore bulls of different ages and with different body compositions can be combined in a SDB for RFI calculation. Therefore, young animals can be evaluated in feed efficiency tests in order to reduce costs and the generation interval and possibly to obtain a higher response to selection.
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Acknowledgements
We thank the Qualitas Nelore Breeding Program and the Institute of Animal Science for providing the phenotypic and genotypic data.
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This study was supported in part by the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES), Brazil (Finance Code 001).
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Oliveira and Silva elaborated the project, analyzed the data and wrote the draft of the manuscript. Malheiros, Gaya, Mercadante, and Silva verified the analytical methods and supervised the findings of this work. Ospina, Dominguez-Castanõ, Benfica, Correia, Castilhos, Cyrillo, Sartori and Albuquerque contributed to the discussions and to drafting the final version of the manuscript.
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The databases used are from feed efficiency tests of two selection lines (commercial and experimental) conducted following animal welfare guidelines according to State Law No. 11.977 of the State of São Paulo, Brazil.
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de Oliveira, M.H.V., Malheiros, J.M., Ospina, A.M.T. et al. Analysis of residual feed intake in Nellore bulls of different ages, rib eye area, and backfat thickness. Trop Anim Health Prod 54, 295 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-022-03285-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-022-03285-6