Beefing up feed efficiency: Researcher looks at how affect feed utilization

摘要

ONTARIO PRODUCES approximately 21 per cent of Canada's fed cattle. That's a lot of animals consuming tonnes of feed. University of Guelph Prof. Kendall Swanson, Department of Animal and Poultry Science, says improving how efficiently cattle utilize feed by just one per cent would save the beef industry approximately 31 million dollar annually in feed costs. Now, he's studying how genetic differences in animals influence their ability to convert feed efficiently. He hopes his findings will help producers breed for animals that make the most of their feed. "By better understanding feed efficiency between animals, we may be able to design genetic markers that allow farmers to select animals that are more efficient," says Swanson.