Association Of Residual Feed Intake To Metrics Of Tanganyika Shorthorn Zebu Cattle In

Description

Increasing competition for feed resources and greenhouse gases pollution have been compelling beef production systems to operate at higher feed utilization efficiency. These challenges imply the need to breed cattle for residual feed intake. In exploring indicator traits for residual feed intake in Tanganyika Shorthorn Zebu, this study investigated its association with body metrics. A correlation study involving fattening of twenty-eight Tanganyika Shorthorn Zebu bulls of Sukuma and Tarime strains sampled from Misungwi and Maswa Districts was conducted at Tanzania Livestock Research Institute-Mabuki. From the animals’ body weight and feeding data, regression of daily feed intake on average daily gain and metabolic body weight were analyzed to enable the estimation of the animals’ residual feed intake. Subsequently, the correlation of residual feed intake to metrics of belly, horn, hip, dewlap, hump and body length was investigated. Residual feed intake was found to be positively correlated to belly length, dewlap depth and hump length. The results indicated prospects for using belly length, dewlap depth and hump length as indicator traits for residual feed intake in selection.