The project evolved from a grant that began its third year in April of 2013. More than 2,400 animals will be genotyped to generate across-breed molecular expected progeny differences (MEPD) for feed efficiency, feed intake, growth, and carcass traits.

The main goal of the project is to identify genetic markers associated with feed intake across multiple breeds. From that information develop selection tools for feed efficiency in beef production. The main long-term goal is to reduce the feed resources required to produce beef by selecting for more efficient cattle.

The research for the grant is focused in a multitude of areas as follows:

* Gene expression analysis of various tissues in animals with differences in feed efficiency.

* Determine microbial population variation associated differences in feed efficiency.

* Evaluate mitochondrial (cell power houses) differences in animals with differences in feed efficiency.

* Conduct digestibility trials using animals with differences in feed efficiency.

* Evaluate forage vs. concentrate level impacts on observed feed efficiency during different production phases (backgrounding and finishing).
Determine consistency of genetic marker tests across diets.

* Engage undergraduate students in the research of feed efficiency in beef cattle.

Specifically at Iowa State University, feedlot cattle will arrive early this month from the University of Missouri to be finished and harvested for performance, feed intake, and carcass data collection. At the University of Missouri, cattle are fed either a whole shell corn or a roughage-based diet during the growing phase and are ranked by their individual feed efficiency. These cattle are shipped to Iowa State University and placed on either a corn or by-product-based diet during the finishing phase. Steers are blocked by their previous growing phase diet and feed efficiency ranking. This allows steers to be compared based on their growing phase diet, finishing phase diet, and their feed efficiency ranking. ISU also is identifying the SNP’s associated with feed efficiency traits within and across the breeds and collecting feed efficiency phenotypes for the Limousin breed.

For current events and information on the project please visit www.beefefficiency.org. Look for the new segment on NCBA’s Cattlemen to Cattlemen program on RFD-TV on the project coming in November 2013.

The universities involved in the grant are Iowa State University, University of Missouri, Kansas State University, Texas A&M University, University of Illinois, University of Minnesota, University of Nebraska, and Washington State University. Iowa State University’s involvement in the grant includes extension, nutrition, and genetics. 

Megan Van Emon is an animal science post-doctoral associate at Iowa State University. This appeared in the Growing Beef e-newsletter.