Characterization of feeding behavior traits in steers with divergent residual feed intake consuming a high-concentrate diet

Abstract

The objective of this study was to examine the differences in feeding behavior patterns of steers with divergent phenotypes for residual feed intake (RFI). Three trials were conducted with 508 Angus-based composite crossbred steers (body weight [BW] = 309 ± 57 kg) fed a high-concentrate diet in pens equipped with electronic feed bunks (GrowSafe System). Initial and final carcass ultrasound measurements (intra-muscular fat, backfat depth, and rib-eye area) were collected on days 0 and 70, and BW measured at 14-d intervals. Individual dry matter intake (DMI) and feeding behavior traits were collected for 70 d, and RFI calculated as the residual from the regression of DMI on average daily gain (ADG) and mid-test BW0.75. Steers were ranked by RFI and assigned to low-, medium-, and high-RFI classes based on ± 0.5 SD from the mean RFI within the trial. The feeding behavior traits evaluated in this study included frequency and duration of bunk visit (BV) and meal events, head-down (HD) duration, mean meal length, time-to-bunk interval, the maximum nonfeeding interval, and the day-to-day variation of these traits, defined as the root mean squared error (RMSE) from linear regression of each trait on the day of trial. Additionally, three ratio traits were evaluated: BV events per meal, HD duration per BV event, and HD duration per meal event. Low-RFI (feed-efficient) steers consumed 16% less (P < 0.01) DMI, while BW and ADG were not different compared with high-RFI steers. Low-RFI steers had 18% fewer and 21% shorter (P < 0.01) BV events, and 11% fewer and 13% shorter (P < 0.01) meal events per day compared with high-RFI steers. Furthermore, low-RFI steers exhibited less (P < 0.05) day-to-day variance in DMI, as well as in frequency and duration of BV and meal events and HD duration compared with high-RFI steers. Differences in feeding behavior traits due to RFI were minimally affected by covariate adjustment for DMI, indicating that steers with divergent RFI have distinct feeding behavior patterns that are largely independent of differences in DMI. These results suggest that feeding behavior traits may be useful biomarkers for the prediction of feed efficiency in beef cattle.

Predicting feed intake using modelling based on feeding behaviour in finishing beef steers

“…Time spent at the feeder (TOTFEEDTIME) was comparable with other studies ( Nkrumah et al, 2007 , Haskell et al, 2019 , Parsons et al, 2020 ), where beef steers were fed high concentrate diets through electronic feeders. The TOTFEEDTIME was also comparable with steers fed a mixed diet ( Haskell et al, 2019 ).…”

“…Although lower than results reported in this study, Nkrumah et al (2007) reported positive correlations ( r = 0.27; P < 0.001) between daily feeding time and DMI in steers fed a high concentrate diet. Similarly, positive correlations ( r = 0.13; P < 0.05) between time at the feeder and DMI have been reported in beef steers fed a high corn ( Montanholi et al, 2010 ) and high concentrate ( r = 0.42; P < 0.05; Parsons et al, 2020 ) diets, although a negative correlation ( r = −0.16; P < 0.05) with number of visits to the feeder was also noted ( Montanholi et al, 2010 ). Higher correlations between feeding time and FWI ( r = 0.53–0.95) have been noted in dairy cows fed a total mixed ration ( De Mol et al, 2016 , Pahl et al, 2016 ).…”

In utero choline exposure alters growth, metabolism, feed efficiency, and carcass characteristics of Holstein × Angus cattle from weaning to slaughter

“…There was no evidence of difference for dimensions or dimension change over the FE period between efficiency groups. This is a common result in RFI studies in growing beef cattle ( Nkrumah et al, 2004 ; Hafla et al, 2013 ; Parsons et al, 2020 ), and in Limousin × Holstein heifers ( Kelly et al, 2010 ). Since animal dimensions are likely highly correlated with animal BW, the dimensions are likely partially captured in the DMI regression used to calculate RFI.…”

Effects of feeding level on efficiency of high and low residual feed intake beef steers

“…The physiological basis for differences in beef cattle feed efficiency, as defined by residual feed intake (RFI), has been explored extensively. Divergent RFI may be partially explained by differences in nutrient digestibility and rumen volatile fatty acid production (Johnson et al, 2019), feeding behavior (Parsons et al, 2020), and intestinal microbiome composition (Welch et al, 2020). With increasing concerns regarding climate change and narrow profit margins, a recent paper examined efficiency parameters in feed-restricted beef steers (Andreini et al, 2020).…”