1. Importance of Beef Cattle Feed Efficiency By: Colton Turner

2. Introduction Importance: feed efficiency in beef cattle has become a major issue in the world today Main Focus: Growing and finishing cattle in feedlots Thesis Statement: With an increasing number of Americans, decreasing numbers of beef cattle, and increasing feed prices, improvements in beef cattle feed efficiency are necessary to meet the demands.

3. Background of Beef Cattle Industry English brought cattle to U.S. in 1611 Major feedlots in Texas, Colorado, Nebraska, Kansas Protein consumption increase to 70 lbs of beef per person each year Pressure on industry to meet demands

5. Feed Efficiency Production of meat per unit of feed consumed Conversion: Feed intake/Weight gain

6. Measures of Feed Efficiency Feed efficiency traits in the beef cow herd Residual Feed Intake (RFI)-animals actual feed net The Cornell/Cattle Value Discovery System (CVDS) GrowSafe System

7. The more efficient steer (negative RFI) gained the same, but ate 485 lbs less feed than the less efficient steer over the 77 day trial (positive RFI).

8. References