ABSTRACT
This study aimed to estimate the phenotypic association between feed efficiency and gain in carcass finishing of young Nelore bulls. Information from 98 young Nelore bulls participating in two feed efficiency tests using the Growsafe® electronic trough system, carried out in the years 2015 and 2016, at the Capim Branco farm of the Universidade Federal de Uberlândia was used .The feed efficiency tests lasted for 91 days, with 21 days of adaptation and 70 days of evaluation. The animals had a mean age at the beginning and end of the confinement of 19.98 and 22.16 months, and mean weight initial and end of 428.17 and 542.27kg, respectively. It was verified that most efficient animals deposited less fat, and the efficient animals deposited more fat during the evaluation period at the confinement. It was observed that there is a low magnitude phenotypic association (0.29) between the residual feed intake (RFI) and the gain in carcass finishing (GACAB). Thus, it can be inferred that by selecting lower values of residual feed intake there will be some negative interference in GACAB. It was concluded that the most efficient animals (negative RFI) may present lower deposition of subcutaneous fat, influencing the carcass quality of Nelore cattle.
Keywords:
residual feed intake; subcutaneous fat; beef cattle
