Abstract
The purpose of this study was to estimate the phenotypic associations between residual food intake (RFI) and carcass traits, evaluated by ultrasonography, of young Nellore bulls. Information about 53 young Nelore bulls, pure origin (PO), participants in the Individual Performance Test of Nelore Bulls, carried out at the Capim Branco experimental farm of the Federal University of Uberlândia (UFU) were used for this purpose. It was evaluated the characteristics of residual feed intake (RFI), rib eye area (REA), marbling (MAR) and fat thickness (FT). In order to estimate the Spearman and Pearson correlation coefficients, the SAS program was used. Regarding the influence of the RFI classes (low RFI, medium RFI and high RFI) on carcass traits, an out analysis of variance was carried out using the least squares method. It was verified that there was no phenotypic association between RFI and the characteristics of REA and MAR, but the relation between FT and the phenotypic association revealed a medium magnitude. However, when evaluating the RFI classes, it was observed that there were no significant differences of the RFI classes with the carcass traits (REA, FT and MAR). It is recommended that new studies are carried out to verify if the selection for RFI does not result in damages to the finishing of carcass in Nelore cattle.
Highlights
Brazil has the largest commercial cattle herd in the world, about 209 million head (Gomes et al 2017), the zebu ones stand out for the economic importance, reaching 80% of the national herd (ABCZ 2007)
Information about 53 young Nelore bulls, pure origin (PO), participants in the Individual Performance Test of Nelore Bulls, carried out at the Capim Branco experimental farm of the Federal University of Uberlândia (UFU) were used for this purpose. It was evaluated the characteristics of residual feed intake (RFI), rib eye area (REA), marbling (MAR) and fat thickness (FT)
When evaluating the RFI classes, it was observed that there were no significant differences of the RFI classes with the carcass traits (REA, FT and MAR)
Summary
Brazil has the largest commercial cattle herd in the world, about 209 million head (Gomes et al 2017), the zebu ones stand out for the economic importance, reaching 80% of the national herd (ABCZ 2007). According to Chaves (2013), these characteristics are known as outputs, due to the ease of obtaining field data and the rapid response to selection In this context, the Residual Feed Intake (RFI) measurement is of great importance since it allows the identification of genetically efficient animals, with a lower food intake, promoting the increase of productivity at the same time in which the cost of production is reduced (Gomes et al 2012)
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