Dr. Evan Whitley of The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation will lead this informative session on feed efficiency. The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation uses advanced technology developed by Growsafe Systems to determine individual feed intake, feed conversion and residual feed intake (RFI), as well as numerous other behavioral measurements that influence performance and conversions. Dr. Whitley has used these systems in confinement feedyards and in pasture based programs. The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation is pioneering how to most effectively
use these pasture based systems to create more efficiency into ranching and seedstock operations.
As the beef industry begins to define cow efficiency, individual animal measurements for feed intake and RFI will be a large part of the equation. Data strongly suggests that Beefmasters excel in these traits and some animal scientists theorize that RFI is a maternal trait, which could have positive repercussions for Beefmasters. In the near future, this data will be incorporated into BBU genetic evaluations where it will be used to prove the efficiency of Beefmasters. Dr. Whitley’s expertise in these areas will be of upmost importance to the Beefmaster breed as we forge our way into defining cow efficiency.
