Residual feed intake and gain alters the performance and carcass traits in Nellore cattle.

ABSTRACT

The residual intake and gain (RIG) aims to select animals that present low feed intake in relation to the expected. This study aimed to evaluate the associations of selection for RIG with performance and carcass traits in Nellore cattle. Initially, residual feed intake (RFI) and residual gain (RG) were determined. From this, the RIG was calculated, and the animals were classified as efficient and inefficient for RIG. The efficient animals for RIG showed higher daily weight gain (DWG), Longissimus muscle area (LMA), and mid-test metabolic body weight (MMBW) than the inefficient ones. No significant correlations were found between subcutaneous fat thickness (SFT), marbling (MAR), LMA, MMBW, and the RIG. Thus, it's concluded that the RIG is a measure that can be used to identify and select animals with higher rates of DWG and LMA without changes in the dry matter intake (DMI), SFT, and MAR. However, this index should still be observed with caution, as it may be dependent on body size. Based on the findings, the selection of animals according to the RIG can be an important factor to generate phenotypic evolution in characteristics such as weight gain and rib eye area without adverse effects on the carcass fat deposition.