| Two Nellore herds were compared, one selected for greater postweaning weight and the other, control, selected for average postweaning weight, to evaluate the effects of 29 years of selection on feed efficiency. Sixty Nellore males (41 selected and 19 control) averaging 205 kg and 267 days of age were evaluated in individual pens during performance test. Performance and dry matter intake were used to determine the following feed efficiency traits: feed conversion; residual feed intake; residual gain; partial growth efficiency; relative growth rate and Kleiber ratio. After the 112-day experimental period, control animals showed lower body weight when compared to selected animals, however, they did not differ for dry matter intake (% of body weight), rib-eye... |
