What does feed efficiency measure?

Feed efficiency is a crucial metric that evaluates an animal's ability to convert feed into usable energy and body weight gain. It essentially quantifies how much weight an animal gains in relation to the amount of feed it consumes. High feed efficiency occurs when an animal achieves significant weight gain on a relatively low amount of feed, indicating more efficient utilization of the nutrients available in the feed.

This concept is vital in livestock production as it directly influences the overall profitability of the operation; more efficient animals require less feed to achieve the same growth, thereby reducing costs. By focusing on feed efficiency, producers can select animals that are genetically predisposed to convert feed into body mass more effectively, leading to improved growth rates and better feed-to-gain ratios.

Measuring only the amount of feed consumed does not provide a complete picture of an animal's efficiency, nor does it account for the costs associated with feed or the nutritional quality. Understanding feed efficiency is essential for optimizing production practices and ensuring sustainable animal husbandry.