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Breeding for Efficiency in Livestock Production: Defining the Economic Objectives¹

DEKALB Agresearch, Inc., Dekalb, Illinois

Abstract

Most of the research work in animal breeding to date has been effectively concerned with methods of genetic evaluation and the nature of responses to selection. However, research leading to the complete definition of realistic selection goals does not seem to have been adequate. In this paper, the economic aspects of efficiency of production in meat animals will be considered. Suggestions will be made concerning information needed for the complete definition of selection goals and concerning utilization of these definitions to arrive at a selection criterion.

Efficiency of production is an often mentioned objective of the meat animal industries as well as other agricultural industries. Efficiency is defined (Webster, 1956) as "effective operation as measured by a comparison of production with cost in energy, time, money, etc." Three main aspects of efficiency in livestock production are:

1. Efficiency of animal industries relative to other food industries

2. Efficiency of animal industries relative to each other.

¹ Invited paper presented before the Breeding and Genetics Section of the 61st Annual Meeting of American Society of Animal Science at Purdue University, August 1969.

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