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Precision Feeding of Feedlot Calves Based on Phenotypic Production Profiles: The Effect on Economic Important Production Parameters
Department of Production Animal Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X04, Onderstepoort, Pretoria 0110, South Africa
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Animals 2025, 15(10), 1361; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15101361
Submission received: 25 February 2025
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Revised: 30 April 2025
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Accepted: 6 May 2025
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Published: 8 May 2025
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Techniques for Efficient and Sustainable Cattle Production: Precision Farming, Feed Ingredients and Efficiency and Rumen Health)
Simple Summary
In most feedlots today, calves are not fed based on their individual potential to grow. This one-size-fits-all approach can miss opportunities to improve both animal performance and profits. Our study explores a smarter way to feed cattle—based on precision livestock feeding—where diets are matched to individual calves’ growth potential. We sorted incoming feeder calves according to their production potential (PP) using our methodology previously demonstrated: Group PP1 were calves with an above-average potential to grow, group PP2 were calves with an average growth potential, and group PP3 were calves with a below-average growth potential. Each group of calves was then fed a high-production diet, a medium-production diet (representing the current feedlot diet), and a low-production diet. Across all types of diets, calves in the PP1 group consistently performed the best (in terms of carcass gain), while PP3 calves lagged behind. However, we found that PP1 calves only reached their full potential when they were given a high-energy diet tailored to their needs. This research shows that precision feeding—giving each calf the right diet based on its growth potential—can work in real feedlot settings and is a promising step towards more efficient and profitable cattle farming. However, more work is needed in order to fine-tune the diets and feeding strategies for each group.
Abstract
Precision feeding feeder calves according to their production potential could improve economically important production traits. We report two experiments, in two separate locations where feeder calves were categorized into previously established production profiles (PP 1, PP 2, and PP 3). These production-profiled calves were then randomly allocated to a high-producing diet (HPD), medium-producing diet (MPD), or a low-producing diet (LPD). The findings of experiment 1 (n = 430) were used to adjust the formulation of the diets in experiment 2 (n = 104). The mixed modelling of economically important feedlot carcass growth traits was performed in order to evaluate the interactions between PP classification and diet. PP 3 was repeatedly outperformed in all production parameters (p < 0.01) by PP 1 and PP 2, irrespective of the diet. In experiment 1, PP 1 calves outperformed PP 2 and PP 3 calves; however, the HPD was insufficiently matched to their growth potential. In experiment 2 where the metabolizable energy was increased, PP 1 calves gained 23.0 kg more carcass (p = 0.05), at an improved carcass feed conversion of 0.91 kg/kg (p = 0.06), when compared to PP 2 calves on MPD. This is the first report demonstrating the feasibility of precision livestock feeding based on the predicted growth needs of incoming feeder calves as determined by production profiling.
