HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Fitzhugh, H. A. Articles by Cartwright, T. C. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Fitzhugh, H. A., Jr. Articles by Cartwright, T. C.

Variation in Postweaning Weight Gains of Steers Independent of Appetite

Texas A&M University, College Station 77843

Abstract

A total of 87 Hereford steers, including 18 paternal half-sib groups, were individually fed a standard ground ration in eight trials. Each trial lasted 32 weeks. Daily feed allotments were restricted to the expected minimum consumption of any contemporary steer. The mean weekly feed consumption was 47.2 kg when a phenotypic CV of 1.7%. The mean weekly weight gain was 5.1 kg with a phenotypic CV of 9%. Since variation in feed consumption among contemporary steers was essentially eliminated by the experimental feeding procedure, variation in weight gain provided direct evidence of differences in intrinsic efficiency of feed utilization for growth and maintenance. Variation among paternal half-sib groups for average weekly gain was significant (P<.05), suggesting that additive genetic variation existed for efficiency of feed utilization.

¹ Experimental data were collected by D. E. Book, W. E. Kruse and other personnel of the Texas A & M Research Center at McGregor. Dr. St. C. S. Taylor, A.R.C. Animal Breeding Research Org., Edinburgh provided many valuable suggestions for the analysis and interpretation of this experiment.