RESIDUAL FEED INTAKE (RFI) TRIALS
HISTORY
From 2012-2015, the CHA assisted researchers at Olds College, Cattleland Feed Yards, Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development, University of Alberta, and Livestock Gentec in measuring over 1,000 Hereford bulls for residual feed efficiency (RFI). The project resulted in functional RFI EPD’s for nearly 1500 head.
The project was funded through the “Idea to Innovation Program”, Natural Sciences and Engineering Council (NSERC), and cooperating Hereford breeders.
At the completion of the NSERC Trials, interest in RFI data collection from our breeders remained strong, so the CHA worked with Cattleland Feedyards and Olds College to set up group rates for two additional trials. In 2015-2016, an additional 350 bulls were tested for RFI and received EPD’s. An ALMA (Alberta Livestock and Meat Agency) grant covered HD genotyping for the development of GE-EPD’s.
WHAT IS RFI?
RFI is a measure of the variation in feed intake that remains after the requirements for maintenance and growth have been met. Efficient animals eat less than expected and have a negative or low RFI, while inefficient animals eat more than expected and have a positive or high RFI.
RFI has good heritability at 0.36 (36%) and little influence or correlation with other traits.
Research has shown that selecting for RFI may result in as much as a:
- 9-10% reduction in cowherd maintenance costs
- 10-12% reduction in feed intake
- 25-30% decrease in methane emissions
- 15-20% decrease in manure production
RESOURCES
Dr. Susan Markus – ARD and Adjunct Professor, University of Alberta.