Selecting for Feed Efficiency

Feed is the biggest cost in most beef operations, so efficiency is attractive. It is also harder to measure than weight, and it has to be balanced against other traits.

Key points

Feed efficiency is about intake relative to performance, not just small size.
Residual feed intake compares actual intake to expected intake.
Measurement is costly, so ask how EPDs were produced.
Cow-herd efficiency depends on fit to forage, condition and fertility.
Never trade away fertility or longevity for an efficiency number.

What feed efficiency means

Feed efficiency describes how much feed an animal needs to produce a given amount of gain or maintain itself. In growing cattle it is often expressed as feed conversion, or pounds of feed per pound of gain, or as residual feed intake, which compares actual intake to what the animal was expected to eat for its size and growth.

An animal with favorable residual feed intake eats less than predicted without losing performance. That is separate from simply being small, which also eats less.

Because efficiency is measured against expectation, the comparison always depends on the group tested. Animals fed the same ration for the same period are compared with each other, and results from different tests are hard to line up.

How it is measured

Measuring individual intake requires special equipment that records what each animal eats. Most ranches do not have it. Bull test stations and some seedstock herds measure intake and report results.

Because testing is expensive, many breed associations compute EPDs for intake or related traits using data from tested animals and genomic information. Ask the seller how the numbers were produced and how many animals contributed.

Feed conversion: feed per unit of gain
Residual feed intake: actual versus expected intake
Test period matters, so ask about length and conditions
Genomic predictions add information but have limits

Efficiency in the cow herd

For the cow-calf operation, the big feed cost is the cow herd itself, including winter feed and grazing. Cows that stay moderate in size, maintain condition on available forage and wean a decent calf are often the efficient ones.

Efficiency in feedlot gain does not automatically carry over to the cow. Ask whether any efficiency figure relates to growing cattle or to cows, and what is known about the daughters of the bull you are considering.

Cow efficiency also includes how much feed goes into keeping her through winter, how well she uses poor-quality forage, and how quickly she returns to condition after weaning. Those are hard to measure directly, which is why condition scores and supplement records are practical stand-ins.

Fit the cow to the forage

The best feed efficiency program on a ranch begins with matching cow type to the environment. Cows that thrive on short grass in one region can fall apart on another. Heavy milk and large frame cost more to maintain.

Pay attention to body condition score on the 1 to 9 scale at key points in the year. Cows that hold condition without heavy supplementation are showing the kind of efficiency that pays at the ranch level.

Match frame size and milk to forage quality
Score body condition at weaning, before calving and at breeding
Record how much supplement each group needs
Cull cows that need more help than the herd average

Trade-offs to keep in view

Efficiency should not come at the expense of fertility, calving ease or longevity. Selecting on one narrow trait can cause problems elsewhere. A cow that does not rebreed is inefficient no matter how little she eats.

Keep records on everything. If you adopt a selection index that includes feed intake, learn how it weights growth, carcass and maternal traits and whether that fits your operation.

Be skeptical of any claim that a bull will cut feed costs by a stated amount. Savings depend on your forage, climate and management, so ask for the evidence and how it was gathered.

Feeding practices still matter

Genetics are only part of efficiency. Forage quality, grazing management, mineral balance, water, parasite control and handling all change how much feed is wasted. A nutritionist or extension specialist can help you test hay, balance rations and cut waste at the feeder.

Feed additives and ionophores are used for specific purposes under label directions and veterinary or nutritionist guidance. Do not use them without that advice.

Common mistakes and what to ask

Common mistakes are treating a small animal as an efficient one, using a feedlot efficiency number to pick cows, and ignoring forage fit.

Ask: How was efficiency measured and over what period? Are daughters evaluated for cow herd performance? What would this bull do to mature size and fertility? Ask your nutritionist what your feed costs look like per cow so you know where savings are possible.

Write down what you feed, when and to which group. Without those records you cannot tell whether a change in cattle or a change in the weather moved your costs.

When to get help: Ask a nutritionist or extension specialist to test your forage, balance rations and review feed costs. Your veterinarian can advise on herd health issues that waste feed, and your breed association can explain which efficiency measures it publishes.

Sources and further reading

Organization homepages are linked so you can search them for current guidance on this topic.

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